H&M Sneak Peek! Seasons of Trees

I am so excited today to bring you this sneak peek of one of Heather's new stamp sets from H&M Stamps. This set along with 2 others will be available to purchase tomorrow March 1!

The set I used on this card is called Seasons of Trees - it includes 14 stamps - the tree and 4 different tree tops - this cute bird house, the little bird, the cute nest, a ladder, rake, bushel basket, an apple and a tire swing on a rope! The sentiment I used here is from an already released set called Old English.

I used the Mojo Monday sketch for this card.

I hope you will check out the cards the other Design Team Members have made to show you today. Just click on their names below and see what stamp sets they used!

Carolina

Heather K

Heather R

Makiko

Maria

Melissa

Suzanne

So remember all three sets will be available to purchase at H&M Stamps tomorrow!

I appreciate your coming by today!

Stamps: Seasons of Trees & Old English: H&M Stamps

Paper: Ripe Avocado, white, aqua Mist, DP - Polkadot basics - all PTI

Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Olive: CTMH

Accessories: Prismacolor markers, foam dimensionals, copics, scalloped circle punch: SU, circle punch, Amuse gem stones, Gold Ice Stickles, small heart punch, EK Success Tree line punch.

Trying to Brighten Your Day & Four Punches

First - in case you were looking for the H&M Sneak Peeks today as I promised yesterday - we had to move it to tomorrow as some of the DT members didn't get their new stamps until today (me included!) so - we'll all be posting our peeks tomorrow so be sure to stop by! Heather has 3 fun new sets coming out on Sunday March 1.

My card today was made for the Limited Supplies challenge on Split Coast. We could use only one stamp on our card and we had to use it to make the designer paper as well as for the main image. You could only use ribbon and/or brads and only the sentiment that went with the stamp set you chose to use. I knew I wanted to use this great chandelier stamp as soon as I read the challenge. I just got it from the $1 bin at Michaels and thought it would work well as a background stamp. I cheated a little and used a Verve Visual sentiment - since my one image stamp wasn't from a set so obviously didn't include a sentiment and I really needed one for this card!

I clear embossed the chandeliers on the background and sponged all the edges with Lemon Tart ink. The sentiment and image are up on foam dimensionals.

This card also qualifies for Sharon's stamp simply challenge "Cabin Fever" to make a bright springy card. I think the Lemon Tart card stock makes this card very bright don't you??

Stamps: chandelier: $1 stamp Michaels, Sentiment: Verve Visual - Thoughtful phrases
Paper: white, lemon tart: PTI, basic black: SU
Ink: Onyx black versafine, Lemon Tart: PTI, versamark embossing ink
Accessories: clear EP, foam dimensionals, sponge, dotted satin ribbon: PTI, oval punch

And here is a picture of all the new EK Success punches that I've purchased over the last 3 days using my 40% off coupons from Michaels (Yippee!!) Some of you wanted to know which ones I got after I mentioned purchasing one the other day.

Top left is a fun tree line punch - top right is a wonderful fleur de lis edge with the bonus of leaving tiny fleur de lis pieces after you punch! Below that is a single Fleur de lis punch and bottom left is a dotted wavy line punch. The line punches sell for $14.99 and the single punch is $9.99. (that's before my 40% off). These punches cut through Papertrey Ink card stock which is thicker than Stampin Up. (I have had trouble with the Martha Stewart punches and the thicker card stock). The Michaels in my town has about 10 different styles of these EK Success punches. Another fun thing about the design on these low profile punches is that they lay flat - there is a little lock on the back that holds it closed when not in use for easier storage.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Please come by tomorrow to check out my sneak peek of one of the new H&M Stamp sets!

Sketchy Colored Plaid Cats in a Basket

What a day I had! First - I worked 8:30 - 2:30 - I left early because I had a dentist appointment - got done with that (just a cleaning and check up luckily!) - drove home in time to change and go off to Bible Study - that was starting early (6 pm) so that we could go to the Ash Wednesday service that started at 7 pm (Bible study usually goes 6:30-8). After church I just had to stop by Michaels with my 40% off coupon to pick up one of the new punches by EK Success that I've heard everyone blogging about! (and it does work SUPER on the thicker card stock!) THEN I was able to start my card around 9 pm (and you may notice I'm finally getting it loaded here at 11:30 PM!)


I didn't get to stamp yesterday (because I was just too tired!) so I had to make up for it today even though I had a late start. Plus - I just LOVE to do the SCS sketch challenge every week!


So I did use today's SCS sketch. I also got my colors from this weeks Color Throwdown #31 (Bashful Blue, Kiwi Kiss, Night of Navy). And I used a basket stamp and plaid designer paper for our Doubledog Dare Challenge from this week's hostess, Joan Ervin.

We'd love to have you join in on our Doubledog Dare Challenge this week - just make a card with a basket and plaid - post it to your SCS gallery and use the keyword DDC so we can come and see your creation! You can see the DDC gallery here.

All the stamps on this card are from the H&M Stamp set called The Cat's Meow. (sorry - just found out this set has sold out and is now retired)

BUT - all the H&M Design Team members are going to be doing Sneak Peeks on Friday and Saturday for 3 new H&M releases available to purchase on Sunday March 1! So be sure to check back to see the new sets! Plus - we will all be doing a Blog Hop on Sunday showing you some fun spring crafts to help get rid of the winter blues!! You won't want to miss that!


Ok - so now I'm off to bed! thanks so much for coming by today!!

Stamps: The Cats Meow: H&M Stamps
Paper: white: PTI, kiwi kiss, bashful blue, night of navy: SU, DP Art Impressions - pool plaid
Ink: onyx black versafine
Accessories: prismacolor markers, circle punches, Kiwi grosgrain ribbon: SU, foam dimensionals, dew drops, glue dots

An Easter Basket, a CPS Sketch and a Clean and Simple

I made these cute baskets for an upcoming Easter sale at my church. The instructions for these came from the April 2006 issue of Paper Made Easy magazine (I cut out and file pictures and instructions for all kinds of seasonal crafts so I can find them when I need them - hopefully!! )

These are made of the little peat containers you buy to start flowers inside before it's warm enough outside to do so. I got mine at K-Mart in the garden section last year.

First I painted them with acrylic paints - inside and out. The lovely vintage bunny clip art is from Dover Publications Holiday Vignettes Book and CD which I printed, cut out and decoupaged onto the containers using Mod Podge. Then you dry brush Gold paint on the edges and dip the top rim into glitter before it dries. I attached the ribbons with glue to hold it at the angle.

Finally, you just punch two holes on either side and wrap the wire through them. I used colored wire that I got at a craft store (forget where!). They come several colors to a pack - each color is on a spool. Inside I put pieces of thick yarn and nestled a plastic egg full of jelly beans in the basket. I used an oval punch for the sentiment tag and attached it to the wire with a piece of sheer white ribbon.

You can see the glitter on the top edge a little better in this pic.

The tags on these cute baskets qualify them for this weeks Our Creative Corner challenge - to use a tag on you project.

Stamps: Easter Blessings: Rubber Soul

Supplies: Peat pots 2.5", green & purple wire 18 gauge (10" piece for each basket), Hodge Podge, Mint Julep & Orchid Acrylic paint - Deco Art Americana, Glorious Gold- Dazzling metallics, Vintage bunnies: Dover Publications - Holiday Vignettes Book & CD, thick yarns, sheer white ribbon

My first card today was made using the sketch from Card Positioning Systems (CPS) - they have teamed up with Papertrey Ink and one lucky person will win some Papertrey prizes!

Can you tell I just got my new PTI stamps in the mail today!?!?! I used their new Itty Bitty Dots Designer paper as well as one of the new stamp sets - Friends till the End. I thought it was a really weird sketch when I first saw it - but I like how this card ended up. I stamped directly on the designer paper with Dark Chocolate ink.

Stamps: Friends till the End: PTI

Paper: White, DP- Itty Bitty Dots - all PTI

Ink: Dark Chocolate - PTI

And my next card was made for the CAS (Clean and Simple) challenge over on Split Coast. This week it was a sketch. I turned the sketch on it's side and used a word panel instead of stars on the corner. Again - I used my new Papertrey 'stuff'!
I appreciate your coming by today!
Stamps: Friends till the End, Beyond Basic Borders: PTI

Paper: Spring Moss, New Leaf: PTI

Ink: New Leaf

Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, sponge.

The Crown of Righteousness

This is my 6x6 page for Patter's His Holy Name challenge for week 4: His Name - Righteous

When I look for a meaningful passage using the name given us - I also look for one that gives me a visual image that I can portray on my page to emphasize the passage - in this case the crown. And what a wonderful thing to know that the righteous God will award me - and you! - on the final day - as long as we believe.

The crown stamp on the designer paper and cute crowned frog in the corner are from 2 different H&M Stamp sets.

I found the big crown in the clip art on Microsoft Word and the sentiment was printed on my computer. I used stickles and gems to add sparkle.

Come join us on this spiritual journey! You can find the thread in the forum on Split Coast as well as a His Holy Name link on my side bar. You can see all the pages I have created so far for these challenges here.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!


Stamps: H&M Stamps: Crown- Livin the Girls Life, frog - Dreaming of Princess Land (retired), Karen Foster Snap Stamps
Paper: Apricot Appeal: SU, Plum Pudding: PTI, DP: Provo Craft River Rock Scrap Pad
Ink: True Black & Plum Pudding: PTI, Apricot Appeal: SU
Accessories: Gem Stones: Hero Arts, computer generated Bible Verse, Gold Ice Stickles, sponge, foam dimensionals, clip art crown, distresser, key tag punch: SU, Avery Mail label

Black Ink and Green Grass is Groovy

So the Fan Club inspiration challenge on Split Coast this month is this wonderful piece of art by Vettriano called The Singing Butler.

And here is what I created based on that picture - an almost EXACT replica isn't it?!?!? LOL!!

In my defense - I guess I should explain that I also incorporated the restriction of using only black ink (Stamp Simply #75 challenge from Sharon) AND to feature green on my card - especially green designer paper (SCS limited Supply Challenge).

The cute little girls with their umbrellas is a stamp by River City Rubber Works and the 'groovy' sentiment (is 'Wild Thing' running through your head right about now??!!) is from Verve Visual. It's cut with a Ribbon Tag Trio by Spellbinders and the ribbon is twill by Papertrey Ink.

This card will be going postal to a life-long friend who has moved to FL - but still makes 'everything groovy'!! These girls even sort of look like us when we were little - I was the TALL one!

Thanks for coming by today!

Stamps: Sentiment: Feeling Groovy - Verve Visual, Parasols: River City Rubber Works
Paper: basic Black: SU, white, spring moss: PTI, DP's DCWV Stack III
Ink: true black: PTI
Accessories: spring moss twill: PTI, foam dimensionals, Spellbinders ribbon tag trio, cuttlebug, distresser

Throw Down the Cat

Ok - before you get the SPCA after me - I LOVE cats - I have two gray beauties myself - the title comes from the colors I used on this card being from this weeks Color Throw Down challenge!


And this very busy sketch is from the Split Coast Sketch challenge. I found it really difficult to get this card out of me - but I do like it now that it's done! I don't normally, on my own, create such a busy sketch patttern! But I guess that's why these are called Challenges! We couldn't s-t-r-e-t-c-h if we always just did what we are totally comfortable with now could we?!?!?


I used a wonderful cat set called The Cat's Meow by H&M Stamps on this card. Check it out and see how many different stamps you get with this set! Don't you just love the little bird and mouse!?

We're having snow tonight - big fluffy flakes - it was supposed to turn to rain but now is expected to accumulate about 2 inches (more west of here) and then rain tomorrow - messy messy!! Spring is coming right?!?!?

I appreciate your taking time to stop by here today!

Stamps: The Cat's Meow - H&M Stamps

Paper: White: PTI, tangerine Tango, Ballet Blue: SU, Bazzill Blue, DP - Imaginisce Twitterpatted, floral DP unknown

Ink: True Black: PTI

Accessories: circle nestabilities, forest branches cuttlebug folder, foam dimensionals, key tag punch: SU

Embrace the Girls of the World

Isn't this the cutest little image? I found it on a web site quite some time ago - it was a whole sheet of about 15 different 'Girls of the World" and it was free - out in share-ware land so I saved it to my hard drive. I went back to the site to send the link to my Double Dog Dare friends and it was no longer available (!?) so I'm so glad I saved it - although I missed out on the boy images as well as some other varieties of girl images. You snooze - you loose!!

Well - moving on - my card today uses the colors of the Split Coast Color challenge: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard and the sketch from Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch

And, as I mentioned at the start - this weeks Doubledog Dare Challenge - I was the hostess this week and the challenge was to use one of the 'Girls of the World' Images from the sheet I sent them. It will be fun to see which image each girl uses!

We'd love to have you join our Doubledog challenges - just upload a card to your SCS gallery using any girl image and use the keyword DDC.

If you'd like me to send you the file of all the 'Girls of the World' images - just e-mail me with your e-mail and I'll send it right off - be sure your e-mail doesn't put me into junk mail when I arrive with an attachment! Click on "view my complete profile" on the side bar

Edit: you can find some of the images here: on Laura's blog - which is where I first found them.

You can find all the Doubledog Dare challenge cards here.

Oh! and I have some exciting news to share with you today - Heather from H&M Stamps has asked me to continue on her Design Team for 6 more months! I'm just so thrilled and excited!

You can see her announcement about all the DT members here. She's having a new release in March and I'll be doing a sneak peak at the end of this month and we'll be doing a blog hop the first of March - so be sure to watch for all the excitment!!

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Stamps: sentiment: Mixed Messages: PTI
Paper: white PTI, more mustard & Rose Red DP: SU
Ink: true black: PTI
Accessories: image from web, tiny gem: Amuse, ribbon: Amuse, Koh-I-Noor colour pencils, gamsol, copics, foam dimensionals

A Bride, A Blessing and A Button

My good blogging friend, Julie (juliemlacey) was the Featured Stamper this week over on Split Coast. Her gallery is just chock full of clean crisp GIANT cards! and talk about layers!! Can you count them all on her card below??!!For my CASE (copy and share with everyone) I changed the colors and the stamps - I didn't use as many layers - but kept the wonderful layout and I used her idea of not coloring in the image - just leaving the stamped outline. Sometimes coloring just makes things look too busy - an outline can be more elegant for certain cards as was the case here (IMHO).

The pretty bride and sentiment are from the H&M stamp set called Just Married. I added a pearl to her hair and a tiny gem (Amuse) necklace. My card is 5x5 so Julie's must be even bigger than that to fit on all those layers! Congratulations Julie on being the featured stamper!!

Stamps: Just Married: H&M Stamps
Paper: River Rock, Cranberry Crisp: SU, Vintage Cream: PTI, DSP: SU
Ink: Ripe Avocado, True Black: PTI
Accessories: foam dimensioinals, labels Two: Nestabilities, Vintage cream and Ripe avocado Twill: PTI, Little Gems: Amuse, pearls: Crystal Stickers

I made an Irish Blessing round top box for today's Try a New Technique challenge on Split Coast. You can see the challenge and the template for the box here (adobe file at end of challenge posting) I love this door stamp from River City Rubber Works and it seems like the only time I use it is with this Irish Blessing stamp for St. Patrick's Day! I stamped the door frame - then stamped the blessing inside (both are clear stamps). I just love this little treat box (will fill it with some St. Pat's Chocolate later!) I'll be using this for my craft sales at church - that's for sure!

Stamps: Door: River City Rubber Works, Sentiments: My Sentiments Exactly - Irish Blessings
Paper: Ribe avocado, Vintage Cream: PTI
Ink: True Black, Ripe Avocado: PTI
Accessories: tacky tape, narrow scalloped rectangle nestability, circle punch, scalloped circle punch, green basket filler, ripe avocado swiss dot satin ribbon: PTI, foam dimensionals. box template

Last but not least - is this card that I made for the 2nd CAS (clean and simple) Monday challenge on Split Coast - to use One Button and to limit your layers and other supplies.There is no stamping on this card! I used white rub-ons, one button on the flower and I did 4 score lines around the border. The paper is the retired Vintage violet - which I just love! It's such a great color - I'll be sorry when my supply is gone! Here's another example of keeping my New Year's resolution - I've had these rub on's for months - and just opened them for today's card!

Hope everyone had a good President's Day off - back to the grind tomorrow!!

Stamps: none
Paper: VIntage Violet: SU
Ink: None
Accessories: SU Rub-Ons - Love & Happiness, button, glue dot, scor pal

A Simple Monogram - and Lots of Buttons

Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge this week is to use monogams on your card. Well - this is kind of a double monogram (!) I'm making thank you notes for my niece to use for her shower and wedding - so I made these note cards with his and her initials on them as well as on the envelopes. The stamps are Fresh Alphabet and Simply Stationary by Papertrey Ink.

Their wedding colors are Raspberry and Avocado - so this designer paper by Basic Grey was perfect for the top border. I also rolled a little piece (3/4" x 3") and pushed it into the Pentell pen barrel so it would coordinate with the notes. The notes are 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 (no fold) and I used a corner rounder just on the bottom corners.

And, of course, I had to make a little stationary case to wrap it all up nicely! The Raspberry Fizz and Ripe Avocado card stock from Papertrey Ink match the designer paper very nicely as does the Raspberry Fizz double stitched ribbon also from Papertrey. There are 12 notes in here presently but I know it can hold at least 16 - maybe 20.

I added a piece of the designer paper to the Avocado tab I made to close the top (3"x2") and used a little square of Velcro to secure it. I stamped the initials again on a piece of Vintage Cream card stock and used a Spellbinders tag trio to cut it out and emboss it. I attached 2 brads and mounted it to the bag with foam dimensionals. I used a corner rounder punch on the top corners of the case as well as on the front edges of the tab.

You can see a masculine note case I made here. You will find a tutorial by Tracy here - which is where I originally found this fun idea.

Basically you take two 5"x 8 1/2" pieces of card stock - score at 2 1/8" on one 5 inch side of each piece, fold on the scores (this makes the bottom) overlap the pieces and attach with tacky tape. Lay the combined piece out flat. Put a piece of tacky tape 1" in on both sides to attach the ribbon (two 24" pieces). Start the first piece of ribbon at the middle of the bottom on the left - bring it up to the top, bring it down the right side and put the other end at the middle of the bottom and press against the tacky tape (be sure the ribbon isn't twisted at the top loop. Repeat on the other side of the case. Cut a 3"x2" piece for the closing flap - decorate if desired - attach to the back of the bag with 2 strips of tacky tape. Attach a piece of velcro under the front of the flap and on the bag under the flap. Cut a clear box (4 1/2" x 5 7/8" x 1") in half. Put tacky tape on all four sides of the back of the box (none on the bottom). Hold the box on the inside bottom of the bag up to the score line and bring up the side to attach. Repeat with the other half.

Stamps: Simply Stationary & Fresh Alphabet: PTI

Paper: Ripe Avocado, Vintage Cream: PTI, DP - Basic Grey Eva/courtier

Ink: Ripe Avocado: PTI

Accessories: tacky tape, Pentel Pen (CVS, Staples), Raspberry Fizz Double Stitched Ribbon: PTI, Clear box: clearbags.com, brads, foam dimensionals,Spellbinders double ended tabs.

Todays inspiration on Split Coast was a web site of artful bras - made for breast cancer awareness by some quilters in South Carolina. The button bra on this page inspired me.I used the Martha Stewart button punch for my buttons and a Spellbinders Tag Trio die for the sentiment. I sponged all the edges with So Saffron ink.

I should have laced some floss or something through the holes of the buttons - but I was running late and we had to leave for a dinner reservation! DH and I went to a wonderful local Asian restaurant (Out of Asia) where I had some delicious shrimp stuffed eggplant with a yummy sauce on it! - so my card ended up a little naked today!

Thanks so much for coming by today! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: Lemon tart, spring moss, spring rain, sweet blush: PTI
Ink: True Black: PTI, So saffron: SU
Accessories: lemon tart double stitched ribbon: PTI, glue dots, sponge, button punch: Martha Stewart, spellbinders tag trio

Simple, Humble and a Winner!

There's a brand new weekly challenge starting over on Split Coast - a CAS challenge - Clean and Simple cards. The idea is to make a card with no layers and few adornments. And you are given an inspiration. This week we were directed to JoAnn's web site showing flannel materials. I chose this black and white 'dartboard' material for my inspiration.

and here is the clean and simple card I created.

First I stamped the sentiment from Papertrey Ink along the bottom of the card. Then I cut 3 squares of Papertrey Black and White Basics designer paper and attached them above the sentiment. And finally, I knotted a gingham ribbon over the squares and was done! Clean and Simple!

Stamps: Around About Sentiments: PTI
Paper: White, DP - Black and White Basics: PTI,
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine
Accessories: true black party plaid: PTI

My second card was made for the Split Coast Sketch challenge - I used the Sweetly Stamped set by H&M Stamps and some fruity/vege DP by Basic Grey. I used some stickles on the 'crust' to give that 'sugared' look to the pie!

Stamps: Sweetly Stamped: H&M Stamps
Paper: white, ripe avocado: PTI, DP: SU and Basic Grey Offbeat
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado: PTI
Accessories: pure poppy twill: PTI, green dew drops, oval punch: SU, foam dimensionals, Forest branches cuttlebug folder, glue dots, gold ice stickles, sponge, prismacolor markers, red gem: amuse

And now here is the winner of my Blogaversary Candy:

Random.org gave me number 37:

Kelly Jo said...
Happy blogaversary!I had to chuckle when you referenced the # of posts you made and said you need to get a life. I often think that of myself too :) Great prize!

so Congratulations Kelly Jo! - send your mail address to me at julia.aston@comcast.net and I'll get all the fun 'candy' out to you right away!

Thanks everyone for stopping by tonight!

A Little Humor

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I made a 'grand slam card' covering 3 challenges today. The color challenge on Split Coast, Julee's Mojo Monday sketch challenge and the Doubledog Dare Challenge I do every week with some SCS friends. Anne H was our hostess this week and she challenged us to make a humorous card.

So I think looking at the butt of a little purple chickie qualifies as humor (!?!) I used the A Lil' Behind stamp set by H & M Stamps and two Cuttlebug embossing folders - Swiss Dots and Argyle. The pretty designer paper is Amy Butler.

We'd love to have you play along with the Doubledog challenge - just make a humorous card, load it on your Split Coast Gallery and use the Keyword DDC. You can see all the Doubledog cards here where we'll be looking for your card too!! You can see all the Doubledog members on my sidebar.

You still have time to check out my blog candy too.

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by today!

Stamps: A Lil' Behind: H&M Stamps
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss: SU, Plum Pudding: PTI, DP: Amy Butler K&Co
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Kiwi Kiss
Accessories: sponge, oval punch: SU, Argyle & Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folders, velvet brad: Making Memories, foam dimensionals, Ripe Avocado dotted satin ribbon: PTI, Koh-I-Noor colour pencils, gamsol

Here for You Always

Put on your sunglasses!!! This card really turned out BRIGHT today! I tried to tone it down a little by sponging the edges but I don't think it did much!

The new technique challenge on Split Coast was to create a border by cutting out part of your patterned paper. I started with this circle pattern paper by Basic Grey and randomly cut along the circles. I used these cute giraffes from the H&M Stamp set called A Generation of Stitches (retired) and also stamped the background with a button stamp from the same set. The giraffes are up on foam dimensionals and the head of the larger giraffe is popped up again.

The sentiment is from another H&M Set called A Time of Caring (retired). I think this card would be great to send to a friend that was needing some encouragement or from a mother to her child just to let them know they are never alone.

The Raspberry Fizz and Ripe Avocado card stocks are from Papertrey Ink as well as the pretty dotted satin ribon.

A reminder to check out my one year blogaversary candy here. You have until Wednesday to enter a comment on that post for a chance to win!

Stamps: A Generation of Stitches, Sentiment - A time of Caring: H&M Stamps
Paper: raspberry fizz, ripe avocado: PTI, DP Basic Grey Eva
Ink: True Black, Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado: PTI
Accessories: foam dimensionals, copics, prismacolor markers, button, waxed floss, satin ribbon: PTI, circle punch

Celebrate With Me! My One Year Blog-aversary!!

Welcome to my one year blog-aversary! I can't believe it's been a whole year since I first hit that 'make your own blog' button on Google! I remember how nervous I was and how I had absolutley no idea what I was doing!! I had wanted to make a blog for quite some time but kept putting it off because I didn't really know how to do it - but finally I had to just jump in and do it because I was applying for design team positions and it was required - and I'm SO glad that I did!

During this past year I have made 334 posts (boy, I need a life!) and had over 65,000 hits (thanks to ALL of YOU!!).

I have learned so much from you and made so many wonderful blogging friends that I wanted to share my celebration!

So what's a celebration without presents you ask??!! Well - how about these?!



Included here: Twitterpated Collection - Foxy Stamp and Birdie Stamp by Imaginisce along with 8 coordinating 6x6 pieces of designer paper. A package of Basic Grey Urban Prairie glazed brads, a 6x6 Urban Prairie paper pad (36 6x6 sheets), and two stamp sets from H&M Stamps - Sweetly Stamped (cake, pie and cupcakes - yum!) and Peaceful Decor - a stamp set of mix and match plants, pots, candles, apples and fun sentiments (retired).

All you need to do to have a chance to win this blog candy is to leave me a message on this post. Easy Peasy! I'll have random.org pick a winner on Wednesday night (2/11) after which I'll post the winner.

So - good luck! - thanks for joining in my one year blog-aversary celebration - and, as always, I greatly appreciate your stopping by!

Two Owls and a Chicken

Nicole's wonderful 2nd Birthday Blitz continues today with a fun sketch challenge. One lucky winner will get lots and lots of ribbons including her soon to be released tiny dotted ribbon!

In honor of the new dotted paper and ribbons - I tried to use a lot of dots on my card. The background is cuttled with the Swiss Dots folder and I used Polka Dot Parade designer paper on the narrow panel.

In trying to keep to my New Year's Resolution to use what I already have (!) I inked up my cute owls from Papertrey's Wise Owl set - (this is the first inking although the purchase occurred MONTHS ago!!) I used the tree branch from the Out on a Limb set. I stamped the owls, masked them and then stamped the branch with Desert Sand ink by Close to My Heart as it's a light color and wouldn't obscure the sentiment.

I tried a new method on the side ribbon - I really dislike wrapping ribbon around the card and usually only add ribbon if I have a panel to wrap it on. Today I punched a hole using Stampin Up's Horizontal slot punch and put the ribbon through it and tied it on the front. I only attached the ribbon to the card on the inside so that it floats freely on the front. I like how this technique worked - it looks neat and clean.

Stamps: Wise Owl & Out on a Limb: PTI
Paper: Summer Sunrise, White, Ripe Avocado, DP: Polka Dot Parade & First Fruits Collection: PTI
Ink: True Black: PTI, Desert Sand: CTMH, So Saffron: SU
Accessories: Horizontal slot punch: SU, sponge, Eclipse Masking Tape, Prismacolor markers, foam dimensionals, Ripe avocado satin ribbon: PTI, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder

My second card today was for a challenge on Split Coast.

I knew as soon as I saw this fun little chicken (it's a door stop)that this would be my inspiration from the wonderful Hunkydoryhome web site that Stef showed us on the Inspiration Challenge . Although when I was loading up my card - I suddenly realized it's probably a rooster with his crown and wattle - right?? Oh well - what do us city girls know anyway......

if so - this little rooster is helping wifey by sitting on the eggs for a bit so she can go out shopping for a new basket! A girls gotta shop right??

I appreciate your stopping by today - leave me a comment so I can come by and say 'hi' to you!

Stamps: Thoughtful Phrases: Verve Visual
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Yo Yo Yellow, river rock: SU
Ink: True Black: PTI
Accessories: word punch:SU, flower punch: Martha Stewart, distressed stripes folder, cuttlebug, oval punches: SU, lace, pearls: Crystal Stickers

Thank You Teacher

Have you been checking out the Nicole's blog everyday like I have??? Papertrey Ink is having a super 2nd year celebration - everyday there is a post and you can enter to win something. Today you can win a full year's supply of Card Stock! You have to make a card using Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Ocean Tides and Summer Sunrise. I chose to make this fun little back pack instead of a card.

I used all Papertrey supplies on this. The card stock is Summer Sunrise. The designer paper is Polka Dot Parade and the stamp set is 'Teacher's Apple", and the ribbons are Ocean Tides twill and double stitched.

Here is a side view so you can see the fun straps on the back. Just like the real thing only in miniature. This little pack would hold a gift card inside the main compartment or a couple of miniature candy bars. The front little pocket could hold some paper money folded up. I used velcro to hold both sections closed.

You can see my tutorial on how to make this cute little back pack here.

I've got a really busy weekend coming up so I may not be back until Sunday night or Monday! I'm teaching a class at the Papertree Shop in Manchester, NH tomorrow - maybe I'll see you there??

And don't forget - I'll be having some blog candy offerings on Feb 9 - my one year blog-aversary!!

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Stamps: Teacher's Apple: PTI

Paper: Summer Sunrise, DP-Polka Dot Parade: PTI

Ink: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, True Black: PTI

Accessories: 1/4 hole punch, 1/8 hole punch, Ocean Tides Twill & Double Stitched Ribbons: PTI, Fantastix Coloring tool (to ink leaf & stem) Tsukineko, Velcro tabs, Nestability Double ended tag

What a Guy Wants

I have been tagged by two of my good blogging friends - Danielle and Amy :

The tag is that you have to go to the sixth picture file on your computer and show the sixth picture in that file and then tell us what the photo is of. And then pass the tag on.

Well - my sixth picture file was of our basement being done over with the Owens Corning Basement system (which we LOVE!). This picture shows when it was just finished and we had one Lazy Boy recliner delivered. We had ordered two but they brought the 2nd one in the wrong color (blue) so they took it back and promised to deliver the correct one the following Monday - which they did! This also shows our big screen TV (hence the title of my posting!) The room is actually twice this long - but we placed the recliners half way into the room. You'll also notice our lawn chairs here - those are for guests that come to watch the TV - the hosts ALWAYS get the recliners !! We don't seem to get many guests - at least not for a second visit - LOL!!! (Those lawn chairs aren't actually there anymore!)

And now I will tag:

Anne - Inking in Red
Joanne - Sleepy in Seattle Stamps
Beverly - Beestamper
Anne - Everlasting Ink

I needed a masculine b'day card for my stash so I took the opportunity of today's sketch challenge over on Split Coast to make one.

I used one of the vehicles (a second thing guys want!) and sentiments from the H&M Stamp set called ATV for my card (and I'm afraid it is presently out of stock - I'll find out when it's expected back in and post that info here)

I had this great Harley Davidson black and silver designer paper that was perfect for it. I used the Distressed Stripes cuttlebug folder for the back panel and the D'Vine Swirls folder for the smaller black panel. The 2 small panels and the sentiment are popped up on foam dimensionals. I added the silver star snaps in the corner.

My 1 year blog-aversary is coming up on February 9th! and I'll be offering some mighty fun blog candy so be sure to check back!!

Thanks for coming by today!

Stamps: ATV: H&M Stamps
Paper: White: PTI, basic black: SU, DP: EK Success-Harley Davidson
Ink: True Black: PTI
Accessories: corner rounder, star snaps, word punch: SU, distressed stripes & D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug folders, cuttlebug, foam dimensionals

Sweetheart - Will You Wallpaper???

The question that makes every husband shudder (although I'm actually the wallpaper-er in my house!)

Our Doubledog Dare challenge this week was from Anne (itsapassion) - she sent us all some coordinating wall paper that we were instructed to use on our card. Can you tell what parts are done with wallpaper ?............It's the background panel as well as the pretty floral/bird pattern hearts!

The Our Creative Corner challenge this past Saturday was to have at least 2 hearts on your card so that's WELL taken care of with the large hearts, the small red punched hearts in the corner and even more TINY hearts on the sentiment!

Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge last Friday was to create a card with a focus on Love. So - there you have it - 3 challenges struck down with one valliant card!

We'd love to have you join us in our Doubledog Dare Challenges -just make a card using wallpaper on it somewhere and post to your SCS gallery using the keyword DDC

You can see all the Doubledog Dare Challenge cards here. And you can see the Doubledog Dare Challenge team on my side bar.

Stamps: studio G clear stamps (sweetheart)
Paper: vintage cream, ripe avocado: PTI, basic black: SU
Ink: true black: PTI
Accessories: zig glue pen, small heart punch:McGill, wallpaper, heart nestabilities, red gelly roll pen: Sakura, pure poppy satin ribbon: PTI

Lesson 3: God the Protector

We are at Lesson #3 of Patter's His Holy Name Challenges - Patter gives us a different Biblical attribute of God every other Sunday and we are to find a Bible passage that illustrates the attribute for us.

This week the attribute was "Protector" and I was inspired by Psalm 5:11. I made a recessed frame for my verse using the instructions for the Try A New Techniqe on Split Coast this week. I don't know if you can tell from the picture -but the verse is recessed about 1/4" behind the page.

First I stamped the Trees Backgrounder stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms on my 6x6 panel - then I made a 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" cut into my page and made a recessed frame as per the instructions in the forum. I framed the outside with chocolate chip card stock strips that I had embossed with the Distressed Stripes cuttlebug folder before cutting. I used trees on my page today as I thought they illustrated well the words 'take refuge' and 'spread your protection' from this Psalm. Many animals seek protection and refuge in the trees - as we seek the same in God.

You can see Patter's Holy Name Challenge thread here. I used Prima Artful Leaves behind my titles as well as ferns and oak leaves punched with Martha Stewart punches.

And here is my page hanging on the wonderful wooden stand that DH made for me!

You can join the His Holy Name Challenge at any time - if this is something that speaks to you - please come along with us! (see my side bar for a link to Patter's blog)

Thank you for coming by today!

Stamps: Trees Backgrounder: Cornish Heritage Farms, Snap Stamps: Karen Foster
Paper: appricot appeal, chocolate chip, certainly celery, soft sky: SU
Ink: Landscape: Palette, Dark Chocolate: PTI, choc Chip: SU
Accessories: sponte, fern punch, oak leaf punch & butterfly punch: Martha Stewart, oval punch & Word punch: SU, computer generated verse, Avery address label, distressed stripes Cuttlebug folder, Prima Artful Leaves, Adhesive Gems: K&Co