"A Year In Review"

Edit to add: I have great news! One of my favorite crafty places, DRS Designs, has graciously offered up a second prize of a $15.00 voucher to their store! Yippee :) I know first hand they have some super stuff in the next release!  

Welcome

to the

A Year In Review Blog Hop! 

In keeping with the spirit of the season, this is the place to look back and highlight some of your favorite projects from the past year.  Please place your name in the Linky spot, (please link to the post, not your general blog) and remember to spread the love to your fellow bloggers who are participating. I even know of one person who is offering up some blog candy of her own, so you never know what you may see along the way :)  If you are just finding out about this now, have no fear.  You can add your name to the list anytime before the hop is over :)

I will be back on January 1st with my list of favorites and I will also announce the random winner of the $25.00 gift certificate to the crafty place of your choice. 

Happy New Year!

Happy Newt Year!

Hi Everyone,

Woot!  I told you the Hambo Hoedown would be back this week ;)  Here we are ringing in the new year with this cute (aren't they all cute?) digi and the challenge to use something "new" on your project.  Along with this Reptile and punny sentiment, I used my new paper pad of Lilly Bee papers for the background and to paper piece his shirt.  It was the one thing I snagged for myself as I was shopping for gifts a couple of weeks ago.   He looks like he's waving at me from sunny Florida in his vacation shirt...lol!  Anyway, I will be sending this off to a friend that lives in sunny California.

Are you ready to ring in the new year?  We are doing the usual and staying in for dinner. Have a safe and happy time, whatever your plans are, and I hope one of your resolutions is to join us at the Hoedown!

Also, don't forget about the Year In Review Blog Hop.  It's starts at 9:00 am (EST) here on my blog and there is a $25.00 gift certificate up for grabs to one lucky participant.  The winner will be chosen randomly and I will let them choose the crafty place for their prize :)

Other Challenges for this card:

Creative Stamp Friends-New Years

Christmas Inspirations-New Years

Marks Finest Papers-Anything Goes

Secret Crafter-Anything Goes

Delicious Doodles-Anything Goes

Glitter Geeks-New Years

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Markers: Copic, Punch: EK Success, Ribbon: American Crafts

A Year In Review Blog Hop

Edit to Add: Please go to the home page to link up your "Year In Review"

Hi Everyone,

Last year I participated in a "My Top 10 Favorite Cards" Blog Hop and I had so much fun looking back on the past year, that I thought I would host "A Year In Review" myself this year.

All I need is for you to participate, and it's super easy.

Just pick out your favorite cards from the past year, and post them on your blog.  Then come over here and pop your name in the Linky spot ( Fingers crossed that I can get it to work!) and let the oooing and aahhing begin. All I ask is that you limit the number of cards you choose to 12 (That's one for each month of the year) and post a photo of the button below at the top of your post and link back to my blog.

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to let you know, right?  Well, that's only because I thought of it maybe an hour ago myself.  So, until we start at 9:00am (EST) on December 29th, I would appreciate any advertisement you could give me ;)  Just popping the picture above in your side bar with a link back here, would be most helpful.

And what is a hop without a prize?  Pretty lousy...lol.  So, I will be offering  up a $25.00 gift certificate (to a yet to be determined crafty place) to one lucky participant chosen at random! 

So, spread the word, start your list of faves and see you here on the 29th!

Out of this World Terrific

Hi Everyone,

Are you making plans for the new year yet? I hope one of them will include joining us for the Thursday challenges that we are hosting on the DRS Designs blog :) Since the current challenge is Heat Embossing, I decided to use that technique for the birthday card I needed to make.

I used the Starry Background stamped in Versamark and heat set it with gold embossing powder. Spaceboy Skip is an adorable image for a boy's card and I love the Out of this World Birthday sentiment; It's the perfect match for him and his space friend. However, to make it fit my card design, I stamped it separately and cut it out attaching it on top of a border made from using the Interlocking Circle stamp.

Here is a close up of the embossed stars, the clear embossing on his space helmet, ribbon and felt button embellishment. They're mail friendly ;-)

Thanks for dropping by the blog today. Get those heat guns in gear before the next challenge on this Thursday!

Challenges for this card:
Crafty Boots-Celebrations
Paper Playtime-Anything Goes and a Sentiment
Pollycraft-Punch it
Cutie Pie Challenge-Use a sentiment
Whoopsi Daisy-Sparkle & Shine
Kenny K's Krafy Girls-Anything Goes
Penny Black and More-Happy Birthday
Paper Sundaes-Celebrate
Crafty Pad-Anything But Christmas

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Stampin Up!, Punch & Twine: Martha Stewart, Die: Spellbinders, Embossing Powder: Rubber Stampede, Markers: Copic, Ribbon from my supplies.

JOY

Hi Everyone,

The Hambo Hoedown challenge is taking a break for the Christmas holiday this week.  Have no fear though, because we will be back next week :)  Until then, I wanted to share the card that I made using the new Elf Gift digi that is available in the store right now.

I won these letters awhile back, so I decided to break them out for my card today.  I thought a little sentiment like that would be enough along with the "Merry Christmas" paper at the bottom.  I wouldn't want to pull focus from that adorable elf :)  I think this image would make the cutest thank you card for all the lovely gifts we receive this time of year, don't you?

Thanks for stopping by.  I know I haven't been posting much recently, it's just that with Rod taking off work at the start of December, I got super behind on everything.  If I don't get a chance to say it before the weekend, Merry Christmas.  And just because of my card today, I thought I would go ahead and elf myself.

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Lilly Bee Design, The Paper Studio, Markers: Copic, Foam Letters: Pink Paislee, Punch: EK Success, Nesties, buttons and twine from my supplies.

Happy Holly Days!

Hi Everyone,

Well, the big Christmas holiday is almost here and I'm popping in quickly to let you know that the current challenge at the DRS Designs blog is Red, White and Green.  If you're taking a break from the holiday prep, I hope that you can play along!

Here are the stamps I used on my Christmas card today:

Girl Swirl Holly

Happy Holly Days

Fanfare Square

The Fanfare Square is sized to work with your Nesties and of course can be used year round :)

Well, I'm still baking some treats and getting some wrapping done, so it's short and sweet today. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Stampin' Up!, Markers: Copic, Nesties, Stickles, Ribbon from my supplies.

Season's Greetings

Hi Everyone,

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for a new Hoedown! 

The challenge this week is CORNERS.  How's that for easy?  Grab your Santa Monster digi that you received for playing along last week, or any Hambo Stamp, and adorn your corners any way you see fit.

I just nipped mine off on the background papers and also on the panel that houses my Santa Monster.  I did also add some brads from my stash to those, but left the outer ones blank.  No real reason for that, just thought less is maybe more.

I used some sheer ribbon edged in gold and a gold metal snowflake embellishment to finish it off. 

Are you done making cards?  I'm almost done.  I will be using some store bought ones (GASP!)  to help me finish out my list this year :)

Hope you get a chance to play along at the Hoedown...I'm always blown away (and humbled) by your creativity as I visit your blogs each week! 

Details not listed above-Paper: K & Company, The Paper Company, Markers: Copic, Punches: EK Success, Ribbon: May Arts, Brads and embellishment from my supplies.



Let it Snow

Hi Everyone,

The current challenge this week at the DRS Designs blog is to use Polka Dots on a card.  This was an easy one for me, because I was able to use the Polka Dot Background stamp which is a favorite of mine.

Yes, I still need Christmas cards so the theme was a no brainer for me.  I used the Interlocking Snow Background stamp for the base and since Penguins are all the rage, I used the Let it Snow Penguins since it doubles as an image and sentiment in one :)

Here is the direct link to the Polka Dot challenge on the DRS Designs blog.  Ink up your DRS Designs stamps and you might win some more...lol!

Also, DRS Designs is the sponsor at the PlayDate Cafe. The prize is a $15.00 voucher to the store.  Yes, a chance at more stamps! Here is the photo inspriation for the challenge:

What are you waiting for???  Have a great day!

Details not listed above: Paper: The Paper Company, Ink: Stampin' Up!, Memento, Punch & Stickers: EK Success, Ribbon: American Crafts, Markers: Copic

Vellum Flowers

Hi Everyone,

How about a break from all the Christmas cards?  I know that I can use it!  I've been loving seeing anything spring like or floral lately.  I think it's just the holiday fatigue that's setting in.  Not good since Christmas isn't even here yet :)

Anyway, this is one of those card shares that I couldn’t wait to show off to you.  I was just thrilled with the results when I finished it, and while it’s only 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ square, it packs a big beautiful punch. I used what might be my new favorite glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle named Carnation (G1028). I adhered it to some Sticker Paper(99558) to create a gorgeous base for my flowers, which were made by stamping in Versamark (99702) on vellum and embossing with White Detail (EP298) powder. Each flower was fussy cut and adhered to the card using a rhinestone brad. These lovely designed flowers come from the Stampette set named Blossoms To Go (440S) and the sentiment is from another flower set named My Rose Garden (402).

I simply added a scrap of patterned paper layered with a border to the top of my card and finished it with a bit of ribbon and butterfly charm. A very girly card that could be sent to a friend for any number of reasons. We all have those special people in our lives that need to be remembered with a card.

If you need further details regarding my card, I invite you to check it out in the gallery here.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Anta Claus

Hi Everyone,

It's Hambo Hoedown time again and it's fun challenge this week.  If you played along last week, and emailed a photo of your card, you should have received this darling digi named Anta Claus.  And because he looks like he's going to fold under the pressure of carrying this huge package, the challenge is to make a card with more than one fold.

So instead of making my usual Z fold card, I was inspired by my blogging friend Gina, and I made a Center Step card using this tut here.  It only took two tries for me.  Sometimes I'm a bit dense when it comes to following directions that include measuring and numbers...lol.  Anyway, it was easy to decorate with patterned paper and I even did a bit of paper piecing on the enormous gift :) Also, I took the December 25 from the patterned paper I was using and I made that my sentiment.  Yes, even though it's pink, it really is holiday paper.

I hope you can get out of your comfort zone and play along in our "more than one fold" challenge at the Hambo Hoedown! 

Details not listed above- Paper: Bazzil, Georgia Pacific White, KI Memories, Markers: Copic, Die: Provocraft Cuttlebug, Stickers: EK Success.

New Challenge!

Hi Everyone!

DRS Designs is starting a new challenge over on the DRS Designs blog!  Every Thursday there will be a new challenge (and they are easy too!)  and we encourage you to enter it using your DRS Designs stamps.

The first challenge is STITCHING, real or faux.  And here is my super simple, and oh so stampy card to inspire you!

 I did a bit of faux stitching since I couldn't get my hand held stitcher to cooperate ;)  I kept it flat and easy to mail so that I could send it out for the holidays :)  Here are the stamps I used on this little number....

Interlocking Snow Background

Warm Wishes

Simply Snowman

The deadline to link up you card for this challenge is tomorrow, and then on Thursday we will have a new challenge for you. If you don't enter, you can't win :)

Hope you can play along and Happy Winter!

Details not listed above- Paper: The Paper Company, Markers: Copics, Creative Memories, Ink: Memento, Stampin;' Up!, Punch: Martha Stewart, Gem from my supplies

Amber Ink Holiday Blog Hop

The buttons above will take you to each of the blogs participating in this fun "Elfish" hop...If you are going in order, I'm the third purple button in the second row, and Julie is your next stop after me :)  Make sure you leave a comment before moving on, because all of us participating in the hop will be giving away the elf digi used on our card shares.  And from that group of winners, one lucky person will win the Elf on a Shelf gift set complete with story book! What a fun prize compliments of Amber Ink.

I love his little impish grin...So mischievous :)

Have fun hopping (remember Julie is next!) and to see all of the elves, stop by the Amber Ink store!

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, Georgia Pacific white, K&Company, Markers: Copic, Felt Embellishments: K&Company, Cord and Sticker: Making Memories, Nesties

Rudolph!

Hi Everyone,

Today starts the big holiday sale at Lindsay's Stamp Stuff.  If you didn't shop over the weekend and thought you missed out on all the good deals, you didn't!  Everything is 1/2 off through December 4th.

I used the Rudolph image from the clip art set Christmas Follies for my card today.  The characters are all pre-colored so everything comes together quickly when using these images.  I also used a sticker for the sentiment, so there wasn't any stamping on this card at all. 

This is the entire set.  It would be so easy to make your own tags using these characters! 

I'm keeping it short once again.  Even though it's only December one, I feel like I'm so behind in my holiday preparations.  Please tell me I'm not alone...lol. 

Thanks for stopping by here, and Lindsay always has some great crafty tips and projects on her blog.  If you stop by, I bet you will learn something new!

Have a great day :)

Challenges for this card:

Anything Goes-Altered Corners

Party Time Tuesday-Anything Goes

Shopping our Stash-Digis

Craft Your Passion-Tis the Season

Daisy Doodle-Christmas

Pollycraft-Christmas Fun

Details not listed above-Paper: The Paper Company, K & Company, Twine and Border Punch: Martha Stewart, Nesties, Circle punches: EK Success, Stampin' Up!, Stickers: EK Success and Making Memories.