Blog Hop Winner, Green Challenge and DT Call!!

Happy Saturday, everyone!! I hope you are having a fabulous weekend!! It's still scorching hot here so thank goodness for air conditioning :)

Kristal of Getting Cricky is having a Go Green Challenge!! In her quest for reducing packaging and leaving a smaller carbon footprint on earth, she has issued a challenge to post a picture of your reusable coffee mug. Click HERE for details. I don't actually drink coffee, but I have a reusable water bottle that I hope counts :)

Take a picture of your reusable mug and post it at Getting Cricky...you could win Kristal's stamps!!

Also, Kristal is holding a Design Team Call!! If you love using Kristal's stamps, I encourage you to apply. It's a fun and fabulous team and Kristal is very generous with us :) Click HERE for details. You have until the end of August to apply!!

I am sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of the Well Owl Be Blog Hop. Thank all of you who attended the hop!! We had so much fun, we're doing another one in September :) Now for the winner!! I used Random.org.......................

And #61 is................................

Congratulations, Shen!! I will send you an email :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Tomorrow is another Simply Sunday Challenge at Getting Cricky so be sure to stop back by :)

Getting Cricky Design Team Post - It's Valentines

Happy Friday, everyone!! I hope you have fun plans for the weekend!! It has been scorching hot here...in the 100's...we're having a heat wave!! :( No playing outside, so hopefully I'll get some crafting time in :) It's my turn to design at Getting Cricky and today, we are featuring the It's Valentines stamp set.

I threw in a bunch of Tim Holtz techniques for my tag today. The tag was white when I started, and I used a TH swirl stamp inked with an Adirnodack Paint Dabber in Snow Cap. A music notes background stamp from My Paper Studio in Mahogany Distress Ink was stamped next and once the ink dried, it was wiped from the white swirls. Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress ink were sponged on next, and then wiped off.

Only You is from It's Valentines. The frame is from TH, filled with Glossy Accents.

The filmstrip is from TH, as are the grungeboard wings, which I covered in TH music note tissue tape.  The grungeboard heart was inked with Barn Door Distress ink and then covered with Rock Candy Crackle Distress Paint and then inked with Mahogany Distress Ink once it cracked. The tag is a Spellbinders Mix'd Media Elements tag, inked with Vintage Photo. Sweetheart is also from It's Valentines:

Click HERE to purchase your own set.

Here's a sneak peek at my other featured card. Head on over to Getting Cricky to see it and the incredible projects my talented design team sister Jessie  has created!! Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend :)

Decorate to Celebrate #28 - Block Party/BBQ!!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Decorate to Celebrate!! For Challenge #28, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a BLOCK PARTY or BBQ!! Let's celebrate everything wonderful about neighborhood get-togethers, reunions and pool parties with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more :)

For my block party decorations, I created an invite, coasters, napkin rings and drink umbrellas :)

The paper is from K&Company Around the World stack, and it was Mod Podged to cork coasters I picked up at Goodwill for $.99. I should have taken a before picture...the flower design was hideous!!

The napkin rings are rosettes attached to a strip of paper, with a Spellbinders Lacy Circle in the center. "BBQ" is from K Andrew Designs Sweet July stamp set.

The drink umbrellas were made of Mod Podged circles and lollipop sticks.

The invitation is a Spellbinders Lacy Doily Accent die with the same rosette as the napkin rings. "You're Invited" is also from K Andrew Designs Sweet July stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set!!

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the amazing projects my Design Team sisters have created for today's challenge, then link up your Block Party/BBQ project!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Getting Cricky Design Team Post - Sympathetic Sayings

Happy Tuesday, everyone!! I hope your week is starting out wonderfully :) It's my turn to design at Getting Cricky and today we are featuring Sympathetic Sayings.

To me, sympathy cards are by far the hardest to make. There's no happiness or joy when you are putting one together, knowing its intended purpose. You just hope you can give the recipient a bit of comfort and let them know that you're thinking of them. Kristal's Sympathetic Sayings set makes putting one of these card together so much easier. All of the sentiments are genuine and heartfelt.

Click HERE to purchase this set or to see her entire fabulous line of stamps.

The base of the card is a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle, followed by a Grand Rectangle, embossed with the Cuttlebug African Batik embossing folder.

The shape is a Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags & Accents Die. The paper is from My Mind's Eye Meadowlark stack. I popped up the top tag with foam tape.

The bottom border is a Spellbinders Parisian Accents die. The crystals are from Recollections.

Here's a sneak peek of my other card featured at Getting Cricky. It's an oldie from last August:

Head on over to Getting Cricky to see the entire card and to check out the amazing and creative projects my Design Team sister Jessie has created!!

Thanks so much for stopping by :)

Thanks My Friend!!

For the Well OWL Be Blog Hop, click HERE

Happy Sunday, everyone!! I hope you are having a great weekend!! I have a card to enter into a few challenges today. I'm so behind on entering challenges, especially ones my friends host, and I apologize. I'm having trouble finding time to get to my craft room this summer :(

The paper is from My Mind's Eye The Blink of an Eye stack, and all of the edges are inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I used a corner round punch to shape the orange background paper.

I love these Spellbinder Banner Basics 3 dies...so many possibilities!! I popped the top layer up with foam tape for dimension. I used a circle punch to punch out the flowers and added gems to the centers and along the top of the banner.

The bigger label is a Spellbinders Labels Twenty One. The smaller label is a Spellbinders Labels 20, stamped with a JustRite Fleur De Lis stamp in Tangerine Memento Ink. "Thanks My Friend" is from K Andrew Designs Sew Fun stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set.

I am entering the card in the following challenges:

Cardz TV Stamps Design Team Challenge #11 - Anything Goes
DL.Art Thankful Thursday - Thank You
IBSIC #14 - Sketch Challenge (see below)
Jaihart - Sundays Are Lovely #10
Jessica's Craft Shaque 500 Follower Giveaway - Use anything with dust on it (the circle punch)
JustRite Friday Challenge #75 - Color Challenge (see below)
Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday Challenge - Use Yellow

IBSIC Sketch:

JustRite

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Have a great day :)

Well OWL Be Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the Highly Anticipated "Well OWL Be" 

it's Heather Lynn's 1st Blog Hop!!

If you have arrived here from my sweet and talented friend Heather E, then you are in the right place!! If you are joining me from your dashboard, or reading via email, please be sure to click HERE to start at the beginning.

Today is the day that Heather Lynn's love for everything owls is showcased through the creative talent of her friends at each blog hop stop!! If you love owls as much as Heather does, you won't want to miss a single project. Each person in the hop has dedicated their time to creating any project they wanted as long as it included owls :) There are some wonderful prizes up for grabs along the way, too!!

*** GRAND PRIZE *** 

Heather Lynn, the Hostess with the Mostest, is offering up this fabulous grand prize to one lucky follower. In order to be eligible to win, you must:

1. Be a follower of each blog on the hop
2. Leave a comment at each blog on the hop
3. Once you have finished, please return to Heather Lynn's blog and leave a comment stating you have done both

For my project today, I created an owl themed gift set...a card, necklace and gift bag.

The base of the card is a Spellbinders Label One. The next layer is a Label Thirteen, embossed with the Tim Holtz Wood Grain embossing folder. The owl on the branch is from Hoot N Holler, cut at 3". The tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die, stamped with "Love Yoo" from K Andrew Designs Owly Hoo stamp set. This set is absolutely perfect for all of your owl projects, and more!!

Click HERE to purchase your own set!!

The base of the necklace is from Michaels. I stamped the owl from Owly Hoo in black onyx Versamark ink and embossed it with copper embossing powder. I added crystals to the corners and filled it in with Glossy Accents.

For the gift bag, I used Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangles for the base and a Grand Rectangle as the next layer. The Owl is also from Hoot N Holler. I wanted it to look like the owl was in the tree, so the handle is covered with Spellbinders leaves.

The owl is the flap of the bag, secured with velcro.

The Grand Rectangle is also embossed with the Wood Grain embossing folder. The banner is a Spellbinders tag. "You're a hoot" is from Owly Hoo.

I have blog candy!!

All you have to do to be eligible to win this cute set of Heidi Grace stamps (with an adorable owl!!) and a 6x6 My Mind's Eye All Spice paper stack is:

1. Be a follower
2. Leave a comment with a way to reach you

That's it!! The winner will be announced on Thursday, June 28.

Your next stop on the hop is my sweet and talented friend Jessica!!

Here's the entire lineup in case you get lost along the way:

Heather Lynn - http://heathernovinger.blogspot.com
Jessica S - http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com
Julie K - http://3girljam.blogspot.com/
Avery - http://iowacraftgirl.blogspot.com/
Norma G - http://lilhoneybeestudios.blogspot.com/
Melissa K - http://kelseymel.blogspot.com
Heather E - http://craftymamaof2heve.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com < YOU ARE HERE
Jessica E - http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com < NEXT
Scrapbook Joe - http://scrapbookjoeblog.blogspot.com/
Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com
Paula D - http://scrapyourworld1.blogspot.com
Erica - http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com
Heather Lynn - http://heathernovinger.blogspot.com

Blog Candy WINNER, Blog Award Thanks and Blog Hop News!!

Happy Wednesday, everyone and happy first day of summer!! Woo-hoo!! I love, love summer!! Yes, I know the day is almost over, but I had major computer issues...my not-even-a-year-old laptop wouldn't recognize my CD/DVD drive and I've been working on it all day. I did get it fixed, but you want to know something depressing?? I was in Hobby Lobby this morning and they had their Christmas decorations out already!! Way to ruin my First Day of Summer happiness!! Not that I don't love Christmas, because I absolutely do...I just don't want to be thinking about cold and snow in June ;)

** BLOG CANDY WINNER **

I want to thank you all so much for following me and entering my giveaway!! I know it's cliche, but I do wish I could give each and every one of you a little token of my appreciation :) But since I'm not independently wealthy and have yet to hit the lottery, I must limit it to one person. Using random.org, the winner of the Spellbinders die and Bo Bunny paper pack is........

Congratulations, Cathy!! I will send you an email or you can email me at indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get the prize in the mail to you!!

I'm getting close to 1,000 so I'm gathering goodies for another giveaway, probably within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!!

** BLOG AWARD THANKS **

I want to sincerely thank my sweet friend Sonia of Passioni di carta for thinking of me for the Premio Blog Portafortuna Award, an award for luck!! Isn't this little ladybug adorable??!! If you haven't visited, Sonia, you need to stop by her blog and see her amazing, gorgeous work!! I'm inspired every time I visit her!! Thank you again, Sonia!! I appreciate it so much :)

The rules to this award are:

1. Put it on your blog - which I have done
2. Name three favorite foods: Pizza, Salad, Fish
3. Give it to 10 other blogs. This one is just too hard for me. I tried, but I can't select just 10 to give this to...there are too many people who are deserving and I don't want to leave anyone out. So I am giving this to all of my followers!! Add it to your blog from me for luck :)

Thank you again, Sonia for thinking of me!!

** BLOG HOP ** 

Mark your calendar for Friday for the "Well OWL Be" Blog Hop!! Heather Lynn of Random Recipes, Paper Crafts and Photos by HL is our hostess for this awesome hop that is all about owls :)

There is an incredible lineup of talented crafters and lots of fabulous prizes up for grabs!! All the fun will begin at 8:00 am EST so be sure to join us!! You won't want to miss it :)

Krafty Girls Challenge #10 - Fun in the Sun!!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!! I hope you are having a fabulous week!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Krafty Girls!! The theme this week is to create a paper project with a Fun the the Sun theme. Anything that inspires your about summer would be perfect for this challenge :)

I love summer and my most favorite thing is spending time at the ocean!! So my card reflects that :)

All of the paper is from them Kaisercraft Seaside Collection, inked with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. The base is a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle. The top shapes are cut with Spellbinders Ornate Artisan tags, with burlap accents. The bottom scallop is a Spellbinders Jumbo Scalloped Borders Petite, accented with Heidi Grace gems.

The Beach stamp is an old one in my stash, inked with Peeled Paint and Frayed Burlap, and sponged with Broken Glass Distress ink. The circular shape is a Moroccan Motif die, hoping to make it look like a sand dollar :) The tag is a Pennant die, with "Summer Days are Here Again"from K Andrew Designs Sweet July stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set!!

I am entering this in the following challenges:  

1. Jaihart - Sundays are Lovely #10
2. Celebrate the Occasion #67 - Welcome Summer 
3. IBSIC #13 -  Beach Inspiration Photo

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Krafty Girls to see the amazing projects my Design Team sisters have created!! Then link up your Fun in the Sun project!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Also, I am trying to catch up with being gone for a few days and I am doing my best to visit your blogs!! If I haven't already, I will be there soon!! Also, I will be announcing the winner of my 900 Follower giveaway tomorrow...so stay tuned ;)

Paper Playtime Challenge #77 - Anything Goes!!

Happy Monday, everyone!! It's the 3rd Monday of the month, so that means it's time for our monthly Say It With Sentiments Challenge at Paper Playtime!! For Challenge #77 it's Anything Goes (how super-easy!!) plus add a sentiment. Your project can be a scrapbook layout, mini album, card, altered frame, bookmark, anything... :)

We are sponsored this challenge by Freckled Fawn who is offering a $15 Gift Certificate!! Anyone who enters can win no matter where you live!! Challenge ends Noon EST on Saturday, June 30th. Winner announced in Monday, July 2nd's post with our new challenge theme.

For my card, I used Freckled Fawn's Lace Washi Tape - Black Heart:

Click HERE to purchase this gorgeous tape!!

The base is a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle, followed by a Grand Rectangle cut with My Mind's Eye paper. The frame is a Spellbinders Floral Ovals.

I applied the Washi tape in strips over paper and then cut it with a Spellbinders Classics Ovals Large. The flowers were cut with paper from Fancy Pants, using Spellbinders Rose Creations and Bitty Blossoms, the edges inked with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. The small oval design in the middle is also a Floral Oval and the tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" is from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set, or to see the entire fabulous line of stamps!!

The border design along the bottom are two Spellbinders Classic Petal Edgabilities dies, attached with another strip of Washi tape and decorated with Recollections crystals.

I am entering this in the following challenge:

1. Jaihart - Sundays are Lovely #10

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Paper Playtime to see the awesome projects my talented design team sisters have created, and link up your ANYTHING GOES project (couldn't be easier!!) I can't wait to see what you create :)