Little Scap Pieces Fun Friday - Congrats to the Grad

For the winner of the Craftin Desert Diva's Blogaversary Hop, click HERE

Happy Friday!! How can this be the last day of May already?? My gosh, this year is flying by!!

Friday means it's time for a Fun Friday Challenge at Little Scrap Pieces. The theme this week is Congratulations to the Graduate.

I created a money-holder card for the graduate, using paper from Fancy Pants' Country Boutique paper stack. The black base is from The Paper Studio.

Congratulations is I think a Fiskars stamp. Graduate is from Penny Black's Kate's Alphabet stamp set. The gems are from Recollections.

To create the inside money holder, a piece of 7 x 11 paper was scored on the long side at the 4" and 8" marks. Spellbinders Classic Postage Stamp Edgeabilities were used to cut the decorative edge. The label is a Spellbinders Grommet Tags die. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set.

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 Congrats to the Grad project...I can't wait to see what you create :)

Attitude Is Everything

Click HERE to enter my 2nd Blogaversary Giveaway!!

Happy Wednesday!! I hope you are having a great week!! It's my turn to post at Getting Cricky and I have a tag to share with you today :)

I have my sweet and talented friend Diane of Nellie's Nest to thank for this tag...she got me hooked on Julie Nutting's Prima Doll stamps!! I was obsessed with finding them and they are practically impossible to find anywhere. But I finally tracked down two of them, including the one I used for this tag.

The tag is  from a Julie Nutting Prima Tag Pad. The edges were inked with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The butterfly is a Spellbinders Les Papillions die, popped up with foam tape for dimension. The ribbon is from 3 Girl Jam.

The doll was stamped onto manilla paper stamped with the script stamp from the TH Mini Ornates set in Antique Linen Distress Ink. It's hard to tell in the pics, but her cheeks were colored with pink chalk. The rest of the papers are from Basic Grey's Out of Print stack. The background note paper is a Spellbinders Office Supplies die. The flowers were fussy cut from the Basic Grey paper.

The side tag is a Spellbinders Labels and Tags die, the edges inked with Vintage Photo. "Smile", and...

"Attitude is Everything" are from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set. Unfortunately, this set is sold out, but there are still a few sets available for 60% off. Click HERE to visit the online store. The banner is a Spellbinders Ribbon Banner die.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. Simon Says Stamp and Show - Quotable
2. DL.Art - March Linky Party
3. Sunday Funday #7 - March Linky Party

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Getting Cricky Design Team Post

Happy Friday!! I hope you have fun plans for the first weekend in December!! How can it be December already?? My gosh, this year has flown by!! It's my design team day at Getting Cricky and I have a card to share with you  :)

The base of the card is heavyweight cardstock from Canvas Corp. The green paper is from The Paper Studio. The next layer was embossed with a Tim Holtz Texture Fade embossing folder and adorned with Recollection Gems. The butterflies are Spellbinders Fanciful Flight dies, cut in paper from my stash and popped up with foam tape for dimension. The ribbon is from May Arts. The tag is a Spellbinders Labels and Tags die. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set:

I just checked, and there are still a few of these sets left. Head on over to Getting Cricky and pick up any stamp set at 60% off while supplies last!!

I am entering this in the following challenges: 

1. Crafty Friends #11 - Photo Challenge (see below)
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes 
3. Sunday Funday #3 - Linky Party

ALSO, I wanted to let everyone know that I had to change the way I followed blogs. I was subscribed by email to so many blogs, I was getting like 200 emails a day in my inbox and it was totally overwhelming me. So I created a hidden page on my blog to list the feeds of all the blogs I follow (my dashboard is never reliable). Now I can go there and see who has a new post up, and it's so much quicker than waiting for an email update. So in case you get a notice, I am still following everyone's blogs, just not by email. I lost a couple of followers who I guess thought I quit following them, but I haven't. This way just makes it so much easier to keep up to date with your posts and to keep my inbox from overflowing.

Thanks so much for stopping by!! And please stop back soon...it's time for a giveaway!! Have a great weekend :)

Tim Holtz Inspired Steampunk Tag!!

Happy Sunday everyone and I hope you are having a great weekend!! I have a Tim Holtz inspired tag to share with you today. I would love to recreate his 12 Tags of 2012, but I never have all the materials he uses for each tag. So this is (very) loosely based on the September 2012 tag.

I searched all my local craft stores for the metal tape to do the background and couldn't find it anywhere. My super-sweet and amazingly talented friend Jayne of JayneDesigns created a fabulous tag HERE. When I told her that I couldn't find the tape, she sent me some all the way from England!! Thanks again, Jayne...I appreciate it so much!! The tag is from Tim's Sizzix Movers and Shapers Tag & Bookplates die, cut on Kraft paper. I used Tim's background distressing technique on the foil tape.

The filmstrip on the side is from Tim's Idea-ology line. The gears are Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets dies. They were coated with embossing ink and then covered with copper embossing powder and heat embossed. A couple were popped up with foam tape for dimension. The hand stamp and the three guys at the bottom are from Tim's Steampunk stamp set. They were stamped with Versafine Onyx Ink onto Kraft paper, torn out, the edges inked with Walnut Distress Ink and attached with Tim's Tiny Attacher. Imagine and Dream are Spellbinders Girlie Grunge Labels dies, inked with Black Soot Distress Ink and Walnut on the sides. The top tag is from the same Sizzex Tag and Bookplate die. It was coated with embossing ink and then heat set with Distress Embossing Powder in Black Soot. "Live the live you want" is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set. You can purchase this stamp set or any K Andrew stamps at 60% off by clicking HERE.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Linky Party
2. Sunday Funday #2 - Linky Party
3. Joyful Stamper - Inspire Me Friday #81

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Products Used

You Will Rise Above This...

Happy Friday, everyone!! Woo-hoo, the weekend is here!! I hope you have fun plans :) For the next couple of weeks, most of the posts on my blog will be Halloween-related, but I wanted to slip this card for a friend who is going through a hard time in before I start.

The base is a Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Rectangle, followed by a Grand Rectangle embossed with the Cuttlebug Plum Blossom embossing folder.

The ribbon is from May Arts, the button and hemp fiber from my stash. The inside red frame is a Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight.

A music background was stamped onto white cardstock with Antique Linen Distress Ink. The flower is a Tim Holtz Stamp, inked with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink. It was then cut out with a Spellbinders Labels Eight and inked with Tea Dye Distress Ink. The label is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant Die, the edges inked with Tea Dye. The sentiment, stamped in Aged Mahogany, is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set:

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

I am entering the card in the following challenges:

1. Crafty Friends Challenge #8 - Dry Embossing
2. DL.Art Thankful Thursday Challenge - Sympathy or Get Well
3. Simon Says Stamp - Dies or Punches
4. Sunday Funday #2 - Linky Party

Thanks so much for stopping by today :)

Encouragement Cards and Chriss's Birthday Blog Hop WINNER!!

Happy Saturday!! I hope you are having a great weekend!! The weather is perfect here...sunny and 72 :) I have a winner to announce for the Fiskars stamp set from Chriss's Birthday Blog Hop, but first, I have some cards to share with you. A very dear friend asked if I could make some cards to give to cancer patients in her area and I'm so happy that I could do this for her.

Because I was making quite a few cards in a short period of time, they aren't super-embellished. Instead, I tried to chose papers that wouldn't need much embellishment. The paper on the left is from Prima Marketing's Printery Collection. The frame is a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Square, followed by a Classic Square Large. The quote is from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set. The branch is a Spellbinders Mix'd Media Elements die inked with Tea Dye distress ink, and the bird is a Bird Sanctuary die. On the right, the paper is Pink Paislee London Market. The frame is a Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight, followed by a Labels Eight. The sentiment is also from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set. The flower is a Spellbinders Rose Creation die and the gem swirl is from Recollections.

The paper for both of these cards is from Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee. I can't remember where the embellishments on the left are from. The sentiment is also from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set. "Faith" is a Spellbinders Girlie Grunge Label. The pennant on the right is a Spellbinders Nested Pennant die, inked with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set. The butterfly is a Spellbinders Fanciful Flight die, inked with Victorian Velvet, adorned with crystal gems and popped up with foam tape for dimension.

For these two cards, I used embossing to add detail. The folder on the left is a Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers embossing folder, and on the right a Cuttlebug African Batik folder, sponged with Tea Dye Distress Ink to bring out the pattern. The frame on the left is a Spellbinders Floral Oval die, followed by a Classic Ovals Large, embossed with Swiss Dots. The flower is a Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms die. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set. The label on the left is a Spellbinders Labels Five, followed by a Labels Eighteen in Prima Printery paper. The top label is a Spellbinders Grommet Tags Die, attached with black brads. The sentiment is from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set.

Scripture Sayings

Positive Thoughts

CHRISS'S BIRTHDAY BLOG HOP CANDY WINNER!!

And now for the winner of the Fiskars Perfect Blend stamp set from Chriss's Birthday Blog Hop!! Random.org chose....................................

and #66 is.........................................................................

Congratulations, Missy!! I will email you or you can email me at indymermaid(at)gmail(dot)com and I will get the stamps in the mail to you!!

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

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/

Link Up For Pink "Pink Hope" Blog Hop!!

Hello and welcome to Link Up for Pink’s first “Pink Hope” Blog Hop!! As we all know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but here at LUFP, we want to bring Breast Cancer Awareness to our crafty friends all year long. We want to get the message out to all women about Breast Cancer and the importance of early detection with regular self-breast exams and mammograms.

If you arrived from Joanie's blog you are on track. If you want to hop along, please start at the Link Up for Pink’s blog.

We are so happy that you are joining us today. The Design Team and invited guests will share beautiful projects and most of all raise awareness.

Our sponsors today are Scrapbook Stamp Society and Touched By A Butterfly. One lucky winner will receive a $12 voucher to Scrapbook Stamp Society and a BCA Printable Digital Kit from Touched By a Butterfly.

I am so honored to be asked to be a part of Link Up for Pink’s first hop promoting breast cancer awareness. It's a cause near and dear to my heart. My cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and has recently endured a double mastectomy. I made this digital card to send to her.

I used a digi from Scrapbook Stamp Society and papers and embellishments from Touched By A Butterfly's Breast Cancer Awareness digital/printable kit:

There were so many awesome images and papers, I had a hard time choosing!! I ended up using all of the papers to make the bottom banner.

I used Photoshop Elements to put the card together, as well as to color the adorable digi.

"Brave is beautiful" is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts stamp set. I love this sentiment...so true.

So make sure you leave a comment on each stop. So let’s get hopping, celebrate courage and strength, and most importantly spread some Pink Hope. Your next stop on the Pink Hope Blog Hop is Melissa. Here is the entire line-up in case you get lost along the way:

LUFP - http://www.linkupforpink.com
Esther - http://forthejoyofcreating.blogspot.com/
Joanie - http://classycardcorner.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/ (Guest) < YOU ARE HERE
Melissa - http://stampitscrapitshareit.blogspot.com (Guest) < NEXT
Sarah - http://sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com/
Theresa - http://theresa-mycards.blogspot.com/ (Guest)
Zeni - http://www.scrappyzeni.com/
Celeste - http://www.touchedbyabutterfly.com
Yolie - http://www.justyolie.com

Thanks so much for hopping along today :)

Decorate to Celebrate #24 Graduation Party!!

For the Paper Playtime Challenge #73 & Blog Hop, click HERE!!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!! I hope you are having a fabulous week!! It's time for another super-fun challenge at Decorate to Celebrate!! For Challenge #24, we are asking you to create any project to be used as a party decoration (or party supply) for a GRADUATION PARTY!! Let's celebrate EVERYTHING WONDERFUL ABOUT CAPS AND GOWNS AND DIPLOMAS with your table decorations, party banners, pennants, yard signs, cupcakes, party favors and more!! :)

For my project today, I created a Graduation Banner!! The base is a Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennant die, with Nested Pennant die on top. The white with red polka dot paper is DCWV Dots, Stripes and Plaids paper stack, and the red with white polka dots is My Mind's Eye.

I cut 1 1/2" strips of the red paper and scored them every half inch to create the rosettes. The top layer is a Spellbinders Parisian Accents die and the numbers are from Base Camp, cut at 2 1/2". "You control your own destiny" is from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts 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 awesome design team sisters have created!! Then link up your Graduation Party decorations!! I can't wait to see what you create!!

Also, I have two winners to announce for the Getting Cricky Show Your Style Blog Hop and My-O's 32 Birthday Blog Hop and I will do that tomorrow!! :) 

Show Your Style Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the "Show Your Style"
Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

 

We're so happy you could join us for this month's Getting Cricky Design Team Blog Hop!! We have an EXTRA SPECIAL hop for you this month -- For the past week we've been celebrating the BRAND NEW additions to our Getting Cricky team by showcasing some of our FAVORITE K Andrew Designs Stamp Art Sets... And NOW, we'd like for you to get to know more about us and our very special Guest Designer (and former Getting Cricky Design Team Sister), Larelyn from Handmade from My Heart!!

Throughout the hop you'll be introduced to each of the Design Team Members who will share a little about their styles and preferences for stamping!! We hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way, so let's get hopping... If you've hopped along from our special Guest Designer Larelyn, then 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 Kristal's blog (you'll want to catch up on all the FUN!!)...

Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help! K Andrew's stamps are all made and assembled here in the USA, which is very important to Kristal. This ensures all product materials are safe and that jobs are being provided and maintained here in America. You can learn even more about Kristal's stamps (and pick some up for yourself) by visiting her online store: K Andrew Designs:

Kristal's stamp sets are perfect for cards, layouts, and so much more...

For my project, I'm featuring Positive Thoughts and Scripture Sayings:

I can't really describe my crafting style...it's always changing. When I first started making cards, I used Card Maker on the computer (I cringe looking back at those cards!!) Then I moved on to do-it-yourself card kits in a box I purchased from I think Michaels. They were a step-up, but still cringe-worthy!! My current style is a mixture of shabby chic, grunge and vintage. And I still love my Gypsy :)

For my project, I made a Mother's Day card and gift box!! I had a request to do a tutorial on a box I made for an earlier project and I am going to work on putting that together, so instead of including the instructions now for this box, I will have them soon. I threw all of my favorites into this project: Spellbinders, Cricut/Gypsy, Flower Shoppe, Distress Inks, embossing, sewing, lace, tulle, ribbon, gems and Kristal's amazing stamps!!

The paper is from the DCWV Be Mine stack. I cut the flowers at 5" from Flower Shoppe and wrapped ivory tulle around them. The base of the design is a Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Label 4. It is embossed - actually, debossed...I flipped it in the folder without realizing it :/ - with the Plum Blossoms folder. I layered a Lacy Doily Motifs die, two Parisian Motifs dies, a Parisian Accents die and topped it off a Standard Circle small. I wrapped some vintage lace around the edge, and added gems from Recollections.

I inked the edges of everything (including the flowers) with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink, and used it to color the circle. I wanted the center to be lighter so it would highlight the gorgeous sentiment from Scripture Sayings.

I wanted the card to match the box...but not exactly. I used a Grand Labels 4 and stitched the first layer to the base. The blue label is a Nestabilities Label 5, topped with a Parisian Accents die and a standard circle small.

I used the same vintage lace, some sheer ribbon, a flower button and natural fiber, and Recollections gems. The sentiment is from Positive Thoughts.

I am entering these in the following challenges:

1. Little Scrap Pieces - Use Purple or Pink
2. Craft Your Passion #106 - Die Cuts and Punches

I have BLOG CANDY!! I am giving away a set of my favorite K Andrew Designs stamps...Positive Thoughts!!

I know you will love these stamps as much as I do...they are perfect for so many different projects!!

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

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

That's it!! You can earn an extra entry in the drawing by stopping by Getting Cricky on Monday, April 23...I will be kicking off an exciting new venture by our Design Team!! Once you've visited Getting Cricky, be sure to come back to my blog and leave a comment on my Monday teaser post for an extra chance to win :)

*** Remember -- As a special THANK YOU for joining us in welcoming the new team this week, you can use the promo code "letshavefun" at checkout for 20% OFF your ENTIRE stamp purchase!! Woot-woot!! Be sure to take advantage of this special before it's GONE!! :)

Now you can hop on over to your next stop: my incredible, fabulous, talented friend Amy of Love to Crop!