there is more to life...

To my American Friends, Happy Memorial Day!

Thanks for joining us for the EAD Designs Blog Hop!

{it officially starts at 7 am pacific}

A big Woot Woot for our May Guest Designer, Anita!!!

You should have arrived here from the Spectacular Shellye's blog:

The Papered Cottage

If not, you'll want to start at the beginning of the hop, which is the EAD Designs Blog so that you don't miss out on any of the fun!  Remember that every week there is FREE Vinyl to be won by a lucky duck!

Here's what I made for today's hop:

I truly adore quotes...quotes that make you stop and think:

there is more to life than increasing its speed.

-Gandhi-

That is from the Tea Time Stickerz set:

I'm the first to admit that I wish there were more hours in the day but realistically sometimes I think I need to just slow down.

The feltie snail is ala Pebbles, the journaling card is Crate's Peppermint Collection...do you see the smidge of zig zag?

I'm entering this into 

The Catered Crop

Felt with the Heart Recipe Swap

and

Gallery Idol 2012

This is my last entry...the best part?  I had fun making all the cards I entered and no stress...that's the icing on the cake:)

I'm the end of the hop...hope that you enjoyed yourself!

you are Un-bee-lievably Amazing...

Hello and Happy Sunday!

I'm super into bees and hexagons lately...

I was inspired by The Craft's Meow May Sketch!

I Love

The Craft's Meow

Thanks Bee to Thee

I teamed it up with some hexagons from the May Studio Calico set and nestled everything on Stampin' Up's Barely Banana cardstock.  I threw some Stampin' Up glitter on the bee wings...

You do NOT have to use TCM stamps to enter the challenge. However, if you are the winner and you have used TCM stamps on your entry, you will not only receive a TCM stamp set of choice as your prize, but also a coupon for 15% off one additional stamp set of choice which can be used one time within 30 days!!! 

You have until May 31st at 9:00 pm Pacific to link your card!!

I'm also entering this card into Gallery Idol 2012.


Check out the newest Paper Issues Challenge...


Honey Bee!

today is a new day...

today is a new day

I think those can be some powerful words for someone going through some tough times.

I'm blogging in real time.  Something that I don't tend to do...I like to get all my cards done the weekend before...and have all the blog posts scheduled in advance.  Things haven't been working that way, but I'm okay with that...trying to go with the flow.

I received thee most wonderful compliment from fellow blogging buddie Lora.  It seriously made my morning:)  I thought the timing was ironic since I felt like I was stepping outside my comfort zone to make today's card {um, yes, I literally made it this morning}.

I was inspired by the CAS-ual Friday girls:

It's a challenge for me to not pile on tons of patterns and colors....It's a challenge for me to just {essentially} take one piece of patterned paper and let it be the star of the show....okay, I may have cheated with the sentiment strip, but.....I couldn't help it and that delish blue thread?  vintage...on a wooden spool...just a smidge left **sigh**

So here's the thing, this is exactly what I love about this wonderful papercrafting community....how we all inspire each other.

I'm also throwing this in for the Gallery Idol 2012.....Good grief, there are already 1,400+ cards loaded up into the Flickr Gallery...as the time ticks away, I'm sure that there will be a TON more uploaded this holiday weekend.    I cannot wait to see who makes the Top 20.

I did some digging around the Gallery Idol Flickr Groups:

Gallery Idol 2009

249 members

1,011 items

Gallery Idol 2010

252 members

846 items

HERE are mine

Gallery Idol 2011

501 members

1,620 items

HERE are mine

Gallery Idol 2012

330 members

1,424 items

HERE are mine

You'd think I was some kind of statistics geek, let me make this clear, I'm not:)  LOL...ask any of my friends.  It was pure curiosity...it was a great way for ME to see how much my style has changed....and it has and hasn't.

I'd love to see your current and past Gallery Idol entries....let me know if you played along with me.

Happy Saturday!!!

Fabulous...thank you

This is post 2 of 2 for me today...please click HERE for my Flashback Friday blog hop post.

Happy Friday!!!

Wooo hoooo for long weekends!!!!!

Doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Here's a card using Jane's Doodles:

Really love this set

Mother's Flowers

Seriously a steal at $6!

I used a SMASH Pad page...colored up the roses with copics and there is a smidge of glittery ink in the centers too!  The sentiment and chevron are ala SRM.

What's that?  Why yes, it has been awhile since I've used a kraft base...I've been definitely on the white cardbase kick {thanks sherry!}.

Flashback Friday 24.0 Blog Hop!!

This is post 1 of 2 for today...please click HERE for my Jane's Doodles post!

Hello and Welcome to the Flashback Friday 24.0 Blog Hop!

You should have arrived here from Leanne's blog:

Leearts

If not, you'll want to start at the beginning of the hop which is the Flashback Friday blog!  There is a listing of the blog hop order there in case you get lost.

Our Super Flashback Friday Sponsor is:

Perfect Presentation!

The Winner of Flashback Friday 24.0 gets to pick their choice of 3 templates!
Check out Perfect Presentations Flickr Group for some FAB projects!!
Okay, onto my Flashback Friday project.....Tara, my Flashback Friday Hostess picked:
First Masculine Card
This was originally posted on my blog on November 19, 2007:

My photography?  ugh

The card?  meh

We can't wait to see YOUR first masculine card!  You have until Friday, June 15th @ 11:59 pm Pacific to Link up!

Now hippety hop over to Leigh Ann's, the owner of Perfect Presentations!

Paper Chase

make a wish...

Happy Thursday...I've been doing a daily countdown to the weekend.

So, we're celebrating the birthday of my boss' boss {is that how I type it ladies?}...

This Studio Calico Take Note Collection is perfect for her {Ala Paper Issues}...elegant, not too girlie.  I teamed it up with a fussy cut jar from the Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Collection {LOVE that} and the sentiments are SRM.  I've been on a huge twine kick...used The Twinery Charcoal to top off the card.

Shop at Paper Issues!

Use Amy12 for 20% off your order!

Remember that the current challenge at Paper Issues is

Bust out of your Comfort Zone!

Check out the Paper Issues blog for the deets and Prize!

My card was inspired by Chupa's fabulous sketch:

Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #60

My sleep pattern has been really wonky this week...more so than usual.  I've been waking up as early as 1:30 and not being able to go back to sleep so then I end up going to bed really early...such thee vicious cycle.  Hoping to get a handle on it this weekend.

every little thing...

Happy Wednesday!

We're half way through the work week and almost to the long weekend!

This is an easy smeasy card...

Bonus points for using the oh-so-fun scraps of My Minds Eye paper that I've been hoarding.  Living in Washington state, I seem to gravitate towards raindrop paper:)  Oh you should have seen it raining on Monday night...WOW...ginormous drops of rain.  Who wouldn't love rainbow raindrops {that panel is on glue dots} and gingham clouds?

I've been really enjoying the challenges over at retro sketches:

I'm also playing along with the CAS-ual Fridays girls:

This is also for The Moxie Fab World's

The Gingham Challenge

and last but not least, Gallery Idol 2012.  

i'm always here for you...

Hexagons

I love hexagons.

Just a simple design with some glitz!

The sentiment is perfect for the current round of Gallery Idol 2012:

Encouragement

The challenge is open until May 28th...have you entered?  If not, you should...you have nothing to lose, only encouragement cards to gain:)  There are some serious contributors to the Flickr pool...this is #3 for me.


Have you heard the buzz about the Three Cool Chicks Workshop?

A ginormous Woot Woot for all of you that joined us last week for


Three Cool Chicks
Let's get trendy now!


Please remember to upload your inspired creations to the Flickr group or via the blog comments by May 31st to be eligible for our prizes!


For those of you who missed out, we decided to have an encore presentation just for you.  This is a repeat of last week's workshop, covering the trends of:


Banners
Doilies
Confetti
Baker's Twine
Woodgrain


When you sign up, you will receive:


-Five emails containing 5 PDF attachments with 15 inspired projects!
-Links to our workshop blog!
-Links to our Flickr group!
-Be able to participate in our challenges for a chance at some prizes!


Entries close on May 31st.


Whaddya waiting for?


Sign up today!

The Craft's Meow New Release Blog Hop!

This is post 2 of 2 for me today...make sure you check out my EAD Designs post HERE.

Hello and Welcome to The Craft's Meow New Release Blog Hop!

We're so happy you've joined us today!

You should have arrived here from 

The Craft's Meow Store Blog

If not, you'll want to pop over there so that you don't miss out on any of the fun!

Here's my card that I put together especially for today: 

I dug up my beloved Basic Grey Nook and Pantry...

The dress form is from the new release:

Sew Happy

The embossed gold paint splatters & sentiment are from the May Gift with $50 purchase

Typically Teen

Do you see what I used from the The Craft's Meow Sew Lovely set?

Sew Lovely

I was inspired by the Moxie Fab World 

The Spatter Technique Challenge

plus....Gallery Idol 2012.

Want a chance to win?!  It's easy...start at the beginning of the blog hop which is The Craft's Meow blog and leave comments as you hop along...remember, you need to leave a comment on The Craft's Meow blog and all participating Design Team blogs {including our guests!!!}.  The deadline is Wednesday, May 23rd at 9 pm pacific.

Now hippety hop over to the awesome Amy {Aimes}Wanford

Crafting Confessions

EAD Designs Blog Hop: Sending a smile!

Hello and Welcome to the EAD Designs Blog Hop!

You should have arrived here from spectacular Shellye's blog:

The Papered Cottage

If not, you'll want to start at the beginning which is the EAD Designs Blog.  Remember, every week there is FREE Vinyl to be won by a lucky duck!

Today I have a card to share:

This is a semi-tribute to Hambly Screenprints...I've been a huge fan of their products, especially their gorgeous papers....so I was sad to hear that they will be closing up production.  My card base panel is ala Hambly.

I layered up:

In a Park Stickerz

Chevron Rub-Ons

{orange}

and the sentiment is by the EAD Designs/Paper Smooches Co Branding

Thinking of you sentiments rub-ons

Okay, now hop on over to Jenn's blog

Double N Designs

The Craft's Meow Previews: Day Four!!

Happy Sunday!

Welcome to the final day of The Craft's Meow Previews!

It's been quite the whirlwind of stamps, eh?  Today is no exception...we have two sets to preview today!

First up is 

Retro Foundations

artist Karen Baker

This is a GREAT set, I managed to whip together a masculine card:

Masculine cards are something that challenges me...greatly...but this set is perfect for those dude cards:)

Next up is

Typically Teen

artist Karen Baker

Check out what I did with this FUN set:

I love to start my emails with hiya or hey....Those splatters?  Yup, part of The Craft's Meow Typically Teen set...I heat embossed them with with some blue Zing powder....adds a fun POP dontcha think?

I nestled everything onto a kraft tag and the chevrons are EAD Designs rub ons.

This month The Craft's Meow Typically Teen set is free with a purchase of $50 or more....ooooohhhhh...you gals will love this set!!!!!!

Want a chance to win Retro Foundations or Typically Teen?  Just leave a comment on the Retro Foundations/Typically Teen post over on The Craft's Meow blog for a chance to win!  Remember, 9:00 pm pacific is the deadline to be eligible.

Want to check out some other inspiration for today's preview sets?  You'll definitely want to pop over to The Craft's Meow blog and check out all the projects...there are sneaks of everybody's preview projects...why don't you pop over to everybody's blog and leave them some of that The Craft's Meow bloggie love?!!

Tomorrow will be the full reveal and blog hop!

The Craft's Meow Previews: Day Three!!

We're up to Day Three of The Craft's Meow Previews!!!!

How are you liking them so far?  I know..right?!  Fantabulous, as always.  The Craft's Meow has such a stellar group of stamp illustrators...they make it easy to design cards/projects!

Today we are previewing

Sew Happy

artist Nina Brackett

I know there are tons of you that are like me....I adore anything sewing oriented.  My next hobby that I want to pick up is sewing...on fabric....LOL.

Here's how Nina's set inspired me:

I love the yellow and red combo....but I spied a spool of canvas twill... isn't that a gorgeous dusty aqua color {um yeah, I forgot I had it}....thought it would be a wonderful unexpected pop of color....whaddya think?  The polka paper is, of course, Cosmo Cricket...everything else has been happily stamped on PTI white using Memento Cantaloupe and Lady Bug inks.  Do you spot The Twinery Buttercream?

Want a chance to win The Craft's Meow Sew Happy set?  Leave a comment today on The Craft's Meow Sew Happy post by 9 pm pacific to be eligible.

You'll definitely want to check out what all the designers created over on The Craft's Meow blog...why don't you leave them some of that FABulous The Craft's Meow bloggie love?!

Flashback Friday reminder!!!

This is post 2 of 2 for me...make sure you check out my The Craft's Meow post for preview day 2 HERE.

Just a quick reminder about Flashback Friday 23.0!! 

Simply Cute Creations is our oh-so-sweet Sponsor!!!

Jennifer has thee cutest signs in her shop!  Check out what Flashback Friday 23.0's prize is:

I know, right?  I gotta have one!!!!

check out her shop and her blog!

Link up your first card that uses a butterfly/butterflies for a chance to win!

You have until 11:59 pm pacific tonight!