Craftin Desert Divas Blogoversary Desert Hop!!

Welcome to the Craftin Desert Divas Blogaversary Desert Hop!! Today we are celebrating with Tara over at Craftin Desert Divas for her very first BLOGOVERSARY!! Woohoo, Tara!! Congratulations!! I'm so lucky to have gotten to know you over this past year :)

If you just happened to have stumbled upon my blog, please start at Craftin Desert Divas so you don't miss out on a thing. If you have arrived from my incredibly sweet and super-talented friend Migdalia, then you are in the right spot. 

This is a "Desert" Diva Celebration!!

For my Desert Hop project, I created a Kokopelli wall hanging :) I have always been intrigued by the legend of Kokopelli...he is known as a trickster, a fertility deity, a traveling salesman, an insect and a warrior among other things. My Mom has a ceramic tile with a gorgeous turquoise Kokopelli that she got on a trip to Arizona. I just love it and wanted to recreate it for my project. I should have taken a picture of her tile, but I didn't get a chance to and since I'm traveling, I missed my chance. Oh well...I did use the tile to copy the image of Kokopelli.

 

The base of the wall hanging was cut with a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle and inked with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink. The next layer is a Spellbinders Grand Labels 23 die, inked with Ranger Archival Ink in Sap Green. The next layer is a Spellbinders Grand Labels 4 die. It was inked with Tim Holtz Wild Honey, Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks. A Paper Artsy Hot Pick 1008 grass stamp was inked with Sap Green Archival Ink and stamped along the background. The bottom banner is a Tim Holtz Tattered Banner die, inked with Spiced Marmalade. Harmony is from Artistic Outpost's Serenity stamp set.

I really wanted Kokopelli to look like turquoise, like my Mom's tile. So I traced around him with tracing paper and then copied him onto Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper. I then cut him out and sprayed him with Dylusioins Vibrant Turquoise Spray. While it was still wet, I spritzed Dylusions Black Marble and Melted Chocolate sprays. Once the inks dried, I covered him with Ranger Glossy Accents, and I used my finger to cover it to give it a rougher texture...more like real stone.The picture doesn't do it justice...it really looks incredible in person. He was popped up with foam tape for dimension.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday- May Linky Party
2. Sunday Funday #9 - May Linky Party

I have blog candy!! All you have to do to be eligible to win this My Mind's Eye Blink of an Eye paper stack is:

1. Be a Follower
2. Leave a comment on this post

That's it!! I will select a winner on Thursday, May 30th

ALSO - we have blog candy for those who are a follower of Craftin Desert Divas and leave a comment on every stop of the hop! Winners will be announced Tuesday May 28th at Craftin Desert Divas!

The Queen Royal Prize Pack

Designs on Cloud 9 

$20 Giftcard to their store

Robin

$10. CTHM Giftcard

LoveBug Creations

$15. Giftcard to their store

The next stop is the sweet and talented Robin of Cut One Designs by Robin!! 

Here's the complete line up in case you get lost along the way or want to revisit anyone :)

1. Tara - http://www.craftindesertdivas.com/
2. Michelle- http://mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/
3. Stacey - http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
4. Janis - http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/
5. Carri - http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
6. Jessica - http://jessicascraftshaque.blogspot.com/
7. Migdaldia - http://craftingwithcreativem.blogspot.com/
8. Lisa- http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/ < YOU ARE HERE
9. Robin - http://cutonedesignsbyrobin.blogspot.com/ < NEXT

10. Susie- http://www.susiecrafthappy.com/
11. Tracy - http://tracyscricutcorner.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for hopping along :)

Paper Playtime Challenge #10 - Buttons

For the Craft It Up & Link It Up "Show Us Your Craft Room" post, click HERE!!

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend!! I spent a wonderful weekend with my sweet Mom :) It's time for a super-fun challenge at Paper Playtime. For this challenge, we are asking you to use Buttons on your project :)

For this card, I used a gorgeous stamp set from Stamping Up called "Let Me Count The Ways" that I won from my dear friend Tara of Craftin Desert Divas. Thank you again Tara - I love them!!

The background paper is from We Are Memory Keepers Anthology stack. The flowers were stamped on Spellbinders Labels Seventeen dies in Archival Inks in French Ultramarine, Sap Green and Mementos Inks in Bahama Blue and New Sprout. The stems were stamped in Olive Archival Ink and the leaves in Sap Green. They were then sponged with Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass distress ink and popped up with foam tape for dimension.

The buttons are all from my stash. The tag is a Spellbinders Back To Basics tag. The flowers are from the same Stamping Up set in Memento New Sap ink, and the sentiment was stamped in Versafine Onyx ink. I use the "out of the box" technique with the sentiment for the letter y, and for all of the stems of the flowers.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday- May Linky Party
2. Sunday Funday #9 - May Linky Party

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Paper Playtime to see the amazing projects my talented design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Button project...I can't wait to see what you create :)

Hello Friend!!

Happy Wednesday, and happy Ash Wednesday to all my Catholic friends :) I hope you are having a great week!! It's my turn to post at Getting Cricky and I have a friendship card to share with you today.

In my new year's resolution quest to learn new techniques, I came across THIS one from my sweet and amazingly talented friend Beate of Fresh and Fun. I love the look of bricks...stamps, stencils, embossing...and this looked so amazing, I had to try it!!

The base of the card is black cardstock from The Paper Studio. The rest of the paper is heavy weight white cardstock from Canvas Corp. The bottom white layer was cut with a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle. The nest two layers were cut with Spellbinders Card Creator Matting Basics A and B sets. I popped each layer up with foam tape for dimension. The stamp is from the Tim Holtz Nature's Discovery stamp set. It was stamped first in New Sprout ink from Memento, and then Cottage Ivy. Then the paper was cut into strips to make the bricks...first 1/2 inch strips and then they were cut into 3/4 inch bricks. The cuts were staggered to give the appearance of a brick wall. The edges of the bricks and the paper were sponged with Tim Holtz Frayed Brick Distress Ink.  The ribbon is from May Arts. The sentiment tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die. "Hello Friend" is from K Andrew Designs Fashionable Friends stamp set:

You can pick this set up for 60% off, but hurry...there is only one set left!! Click HERE to visit the online store.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Dl.Art Thankful Thursday - Linky Party
2. Sunday Funday #6 - Linky Party

Thanks so much for stopping by :)

PRODUCTS USED:

Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Birthday

Happy Friday!! Wow, this week...actually this whole month has flown by. I hope you have fun plans for the weekend!! Mine are to hopefully get into my craft room and to try and stay warm :)

It's Friday, so that means is another super-fun challenge at Little Scrap Pieces!! This week, our theme is Birthday.

The papers for this card are from We Are Memory Keepers Anthologie stack. The base is a Spellbinders Romantic Rectangle die. The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 21, followed by a Spellbinders Labels 25, the edges on both sanded. The ribbon is from May Arts. The button is from Hobby Lobby and the hemp twine from Michaels. The crystal gems on the corners and along the top are from Recollections.

The top layer is a Spellbinders Labels 18, the insert cut with a Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large die. The Label 18 was popped up with foam tape for dimension. They were inked with Memento New Sprout ink. "Happy Birthday" is from Just Rite's Fleur de Lis Labels 20 stamp set, stamped in Onyx Black in from Versafine. The flowers are Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms dies inked with Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet Distress Ink and the butterfly is a Spellbinders Wonderful Wings die, covered in gorgeous bling from Want to Scrap.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. JustRite Friday Challenge #89 - Anything Goes (Fleur de Lis is one of my favorite stamp sets...the designs are gorgeous and there are sentiments for so many different occasions)
2. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Sunday Funday #5 - Anything Goes

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Little Scrap Pieces to see the amazing projects my talented design team sisters have created for today's challenge. Then link up your Birthday project...I can't wait to see what you create :)

PRODUCTS USED:

Discoveries Card and WINNER!!

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a great weekend!! I have a winner to announce from the Ring In The New Year Blog Hop, but first I wanted to share a quick card with you :)

I wanted to use some of the new products I got for Christmas, starting with the Cuttlebug Honeycomb Embossing Folder and Border. The paper is heavyweight cardstock from Canvas Corp.

The tag is a Spellbinders Labels 14, inked with Memento New Sprout ink, with Bamboo Leaves around the edges. The gems are from Recollections. The sentiment is from Good Thoughts Stamp Set by Tim Holtz, stamped with Versafine Ink in Onyx.

The burlap ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. The strip is the Cuttlebug Honeycomb Border that came with the embossing folder. The hemp twine is from Michaels and the button from my stash.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp - Something New (Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Tim Holtz Stamps, Burlap Ribbon)
2. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
3. Sunday Funday #5 - Anything Goes

And now for the winner of the Tim Holtz stamp set from the Ring In The New Year Blog Hop!! Thank you all who stopped by and left such sweet comments!! Random.org selected as the winner.................................

and #18 is.......................................

Congratulations, Arin!! I'll send you an email or you can email your address to indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com.

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

PRODUCTS USED:

Birthday Card and WINNER!!

Happy Thursday!! I hope you are having a great week!! We are digging out from a ton of snow. I am not a fan of snow, but it is beautiful when everything is covered in white, looking peaceful and serene :)

I discovered the other day when I needed a birthday card, that I my stash was really low, so I have one to share with you today. The paper is heavy-weight cardstock from Canvas Corp. The bottom two layers were cut with Spellbinders Card Creator Matting Basics A and B. The B layer was embossed with a Cuttlebug Floral Screen embossing folder. The butterfly is a Spellbinders Fanciful Flight die, inked with Angel Pink and embossed with a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder. A Spellbinders Floral Oval was attached with foam tape. A Spellbinders Classic Ovals Small was stamped with a Tim Holtz Floral Tattoo stamp in Angel Pink from Memento and attached with foam tape. The label is a Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags 1, the top oval inked with Angel Pink Memento Ink and attached with foam tape. Happy Birthday is from JustRite Stampers Fleur de Lis stamp set.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends #13- Add a Splash
2. Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
3. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Sunday Funday #4 - Anything Goes

And now for the winner of the My Mind's Eye paper stack from the Owl Be Home For Christmas Bog Hop!! I want to thank everyone who stopped by and for leaving such sweet comments!! Random.org chose as the winner...................

And #73 is...............................

Congratulations, Tracey!! I'll email you or you can send your address to me at indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com and I'll get the paper in the mail to you!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Have a great day :)

In Everything Give Thanks

For my Christmas Spellbinders Giveaway, Click HERE

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a great weekend!! I got quite a bit of my Christmas shopping done, but I still have some to go. Don't you just love wrapping presents listening to Christmas music with all the festive lights on :)

Most of you know that my style is pretty much the opposite of CAS. I love layers and bling. But the current challenge at Crafty Friends is CAS. My sweet and incredibly talented friend Beate of Fresh and Fun guided me to a new challenge blog where I could find inspiration for CAS cards, CAS(E) this Sketch. So I used the current sketch as a guide for my card.

The layers of the card were cut with Spellbinders Matting Basics A and B. The base layer was embossed with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. The next layer was inked with Sprout Memento Ink. The flower images are from Tim Holtz Nature's Elements stamp set. They were stamped with Fired Brick Distress Ink and then embossed with Fired Brick Embossing Powder. It was then inked with Sprout Memento ink and popped up with foam tape for dimension. The lace ribbon is from Hobby Lobby. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #12 - CAS
2. CAS(E) this Sketch #8 (see sketch below)
   
3. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge - Red and Green
4. Sunday Funday #4 - Anything Goes
5. Creative Inspirations Paint Inspired By: CAS

I have to give a shout-out to my Alma Mater...2012 Soccer National Champs!! Have a great day :)

Products Used:

Every Possibillity Begins With The Courage to Imagine...

Happy Tuesday, and happy Election Day to my fellow Americans!! I hope you have the chance to get out and vote :) I have a card to share with you that I am entering in a few challenges.

The paper is from Prima Marketing's Nature's Garden stack. The base of the card is a Spellbinders Grand Rectangles. The next two layers are Spellbinders Card Creator Matting Basics A and B. The edges were inked with New Sprout Memento Ink.

The trail of Recollections gem swirls lead to a Spellbinders Fanciful Flight butterfly die. The butterfly was lightly inked with New Sprout Memento Ink and popped up with foam tape for dimension.

The label is a Spellbinders Decorative Labels One, with a Labels One popped on top with foam tape. The Labels one was inked with New Sprout Memento Ink and then stamped with a Stampabilities music notes rubber stamp in the same color ink for a subtle effect. The sentiment is a Tim Holtz Stuff to Say stamp, stamped in Versafine ink in Onyx. The ribbon is from May Arts, and the button is from my stash.

I am entering the card in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #10 - Sentimental
2. Little Scrap Pieces Fun Friday - Anything Goes
3. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
4. Sunday Funday #3 - Linky Party

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Products Used

Paper Playtime SIWS Challenge #82 - Polka Dots!!

Happy Monday!! I hope you had a fabulous weekend :) It's time for a Say It With Sentiments Challenge at Paper Playtime. The theme for Challenge #82 is Polka Dots...we want to see your Polka Dot projects along with a sentiment. The prize for this challenge is the "Chalkboard Special Kit" from Close To My Heart Consultants Lucy Kelleher (CTMH USA) and Darla Haverstock (CTMH Canada).

Lucy - CTMH USA
Website: http://lucyk.ctmh.com/
Blog: http://love2createitall.com/

Darla - CTMH Canada
Website: http://darlah.ctmh.com/
Blog: http://www.stampinunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/

I made this card for a dear friend :) The solid cardstock is from Close To My Heart. The yellow and white polka dot paper is from My Mind's Eye Sunshine Forever stack. The base is a Spellbinders Grand Rectangle embossed with the Polka Dots Embossing Folder. The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 25, the edges inked with Cantaloupe Memento ink. The next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 5 embossed with Swiss Dots Embossing Folder.

The center label is a Spellbinders Labels 4, stamped with a music notes rubber stamp and inked with Cantaloupe Memento Ink. The yellow polka dot flower is from Close To My Heart, the edges glittered with fine white glitter. The reason I chose this color combo is because I had a beautiful aqua flower as well but I tried to wet it to shape it and ruined it :( So this aqua flower is a punch with crystals added. The twine is from CTMH, as are the butterflies. The butterflies were inked with Cantaloupe ink, stamped with Perfect Medium and glittered before the gems were applied. The tag is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die. "My Friend" is from K Andrew Designs Winged Things stamp set.

I am linking this up at DL.ART Happy Birthday Linky Party - Anything Goes

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Paper Playtime to see the incredible projects my design team sisters have created for today's challenge, then link up you Polla Dot project!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

Karen's Birthday Blog Hop!!

TO ENTER MY 1,000 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Welcome to Karen's Birthday Blog Hop!! I am so excited to participate in a hop in honor of my dear friend Karen of Little Scrap Pieces!! What better way to celebrate her birthday than hopping along with a few of her crafty friends!!

If you've arrived from the sweet and creative Diana of DL.ART, you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Diana to catch up on all the FUN!! And make sure you stop and wish the birthday girl Karen a happy birthday at the end of the hop!! She will have blog candy up for grabs :)

For my project today, I have a card and gift box I am sending to the birthday girl :)

The patterned paper is from Basic Gray's Sweet Threads. The solid cardstock is from The Paper Studio. The base of the card is a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Square, and the next layer is a Spellbinders Labels 12, embossed with a Cuttlebug folder (I have no idea the name...I wish they would write them on the folders!!) The base of the center label is a Spellbinders Ironworks Accents die. The center label is a Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, inked and stamped with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink. "Celebrate" is from K Andrew Designs Sweet July stamp set. The gems are from Recollections and the awesome crinkle ribbon is from the birthday girl, Karen!!

The inside medallion is also an Spellbinders Ironworks Accents die, and "Today is your day" is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set.

In keeping with the same design as the card, the top of the box was cut with the same Ironworks Accents die. Then clear plastic was adhered inside and the inside decorative pieces were attached with Glossy Accents.

I have blog candy!! I am giving away this cute set of Heidi Grace school-theme stamps:

All you have to do to be eligible to win is:

1. Be a follower
2. Leave a message with a way to contact you

That's it!! I will choose a winner on 8/26. I am also having a 1,000 Follower Giveaway you can enter by clicking HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Now you can hop to the next stop, the sweet and talented Jayne of Jayne Designs!! Here is the entire lineup in case you get lost along the way :)

Diana http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/ < HERE
Jayne http://jayne-designs.blogspot.com/ <NEXT
Norma http://pinkblingcrafter.blogspot.com/
Carri http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/
Amy http://amyscraftingspace.blogspot.com/
Sherrie http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com/
Georgiana http://www.carsonscricutcreations.blogspot.com/
Shelly http://mypaperlove.blogspot.com/
Jessica http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/
Karen http://littlescrappieces.blogspot.com/

Decorate to Celebrate #31 - Any Party Theme!!

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Decorate to Celebrate!! For Challenge #31, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration for an ANY PARTY THEME!! Let's celebrate everything wonderful about whatever you are celebrating today with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more!! :)

For my party celebration today, I chose a House Warming Party, so I created this decorative birdhouse.

Everything was cut in cardboard first and the Brenda Walton K&Company papers were adhered with Mod Podge. The shape is a Spellbinders Grand Labels 4. For the center piece, I measured the length and then scored it at 1/2" on either side to hot glue it to the front and back pieces. The shingles are Spellbinders Banner Basics 3 dies.

The decorative trim along the roof line is a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Doily Accents die. The hole was cut with a Spellbinders Standard Circles die, and then a Spellbinders Fancy Labels Three die was used to decorates the hole.

The banner is a Spellbinders Mix'd Media Elements die, inked with New Sprout Memento Ink. "Home" is from K Andrew Designs All About Family stamp set:

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

I am entering this in Joyful Stamper Inspire Me Fridays #70 - Anything Goes.

Now it's your turn!! Head on over to Decorate to Celebrate to see the incredible projects my talented Design Team sisters have created for today's challenge, then link up your Any Party Theme decorations. I can't wait to see what you create :)