Friendship...

Happy Monday to one and all!

I am going to make this an uber-quick post and

I'll share why in just a sec.

I recently picked up a fab set of new Hero Arts stamps

on my last trip to Archivers and I just love 'em.

They are called 'Very Special' and are lovely

sentiments for all occasions.

I still have not mastered the art of decent photography when

it comes to white on white, so please forgive.

For this card, I used the Primitive Hearts #2 die

and a label die, both from Sizzix.

I cut the hearts from this beautiful gingham cardstock

from A Muse Studio.  I think that the pattern, which is

available in a variety pack of colors, is so versatile.

(and can be ordered from my webstore HERE)

The sentiment was stamped using Slate ink by A Muse.

I used the same ink to shade the edges of the label.

The Polka Dot background is courtesy of my

Cuttlebug EF.

Hope you found a tiny bit of inspiration in this quick project.

So I mentioned that I needed to make this quick...

I am heading out the door shortly to pick up this guy..

This is Caleb and he is the second oldest of my

four grandsons.  As there is no kindergarten today, 

he is going to come and spend some time with me.

This photo was taken this past Saturday at a wonderful

Swedish Pancake Restaurant here in town as our family

celebrated the retirement of my father-in-law.

After 27 years as an aerospace engineer, he is hanging

it up and will be heading to Florida soon for a little R&R.

I mentioned a card last week that was made for someone

special, but I couldn't share who...well, it was him.

(if you'd like to check it out...you can find it HERE)

Anyway...lots of photos were taken, but this is

one of my favorites...

Three brothers hanging out around me.

The oldest two always fight for who is going to

sit next to Mema or Papa Paul and THAT is a joy!

Of course, Baby Finn was passed around the table like a 

very cuddly football throughout the morning.

Thanks for taking a peek today and now I must be off

to pick up my VIP!

Project Recipe: 

Designer Paper: Pink Gingham from A Muse Studio
Stamps: Very Special by Hero Arts
Ink: Slate from A Muse Studio

Embellishments: pearls from Recollections
Tools: Polka Dot EF from Cuttlebug,
Primitive Hearts #2 & Label Die both from Sizzix

Sa-weet!

This card says it all!

I am back today to share the next ten designers who

will be joining the 2012 Design Team at The Twinery.

I am so very excited to be working with such a talented group of

designers and am looking forward to what the year brings.

Without further ado, here are the talented ladies who will be joining us:

Sarah Andreotti

Angi Barrs

Ashley Bores

Jen Carter

Jamie Cripps

Katarina Damm-Blomberg

Jessica Fick

Stacy Rodriguez

Shannan Teubner

Karola Witczak

In honor of our design team reveal, 

we are giving away

an Ultimate Sampler Pack of our
Baker's Twine

Just visit The Twinery blog and check out how you can win!

Sweet Pear Project Recipe: 
Cardstock: Orange Zest from PTI

Designer Paper:  Ivory Text, Delicious Autumn Text,
Harvest Rings, Sweater Weather from 'Happy Fall' Collection
all by Little Yellow Bicycle
Tools:  Pear Vine EF & Pear BIGZ die by Sizzix/BasicGrey, 
Big Shot, Fiskars Corner Rounder

Embellishments: Bakers Twine in Buttercream from The Twinery

Fabric Faves sticker from Hello Fall Collection

by Little Yellow Bicycle

Lovin' Clean & Simple!

Are you ready to play Clean & Simple?

This week, we are being challenged to use

'scallops' in our creations over at

CAS-ual Fridays.

I went very 'literal' with this challenge and not only

worked with a 'scalloped edge' but I also went

with a 'scalloped pattern' thanks to Cosmo Cricket's

'Clementine' collection.

I love these colors together and was inspired by those when I

put this card together.

The sentiments are from Paper Smooches.

 

I really hope you'll come play with us this week.

We have a great time playing Clean & Simple!

This week's sponsor is 

Hope to see you over at CAS-ual Fridays!

Project Recipe: 

Designer Paper: Clementine from Cosmo Cricket
Stamps: Chit Chat by Paper Smooches

Embellishments: pearls from Recollections

Seam binding in Winter White

A BIG Announcement!

The day has finally arrived over at The Twinery.

 The reveal of our first group of brand new designers.

I have been so blessed to be the Design Team Coordinator

for The Twinery for the past year and am so looking forward

to what 2012 has to offer.

Without further ado, here is the first group of designers

who I am looking forward to working with this term...

Teri Anderson

Dorangela Bobet

Helen Bird

Lauren Brewer

Natalie Clause

Amy Crockett
Tifany DeGough

Carolyn King

Kathy Skou

Kellie Winnell

In honor of our design team reveal, 

we are giving away

an Ultimate Sampler Pack of our
Baker's Twine

Just visit The Twinery blog and check out how you can win!

I'll be back tonight with a new challenge from CAS-ual Fridays

and tomorrow....we will reveal the rest of our new designers

at The Twinery!

Congratulations!

It's COLOR CHALLENGE time over at

 Jax has done it again with such a dynamic color story.

 This is one of my favorite die cut sets from Lil' Inker Designs.

I think it's so versatile and works well with these colors.

I made this card for someone very special.

Because he reads my blog from time to time, I can't share

who it's for...but it's well-deserved after a long career!

 

I think this card sorta speaks for itself.

 We are really happy to welcome a sponsor that will be

with us once each month and it's a GREAT prize!!!

 

 

Pop over to The Cafe and check out what my fabulous

teammates did with these colors and check out the

terrific prize from Simon Says Stamp.

I will be back in the morning with an exciting announcement!

Project Recipe: 

Stamps: Rainbow Sentiments by Lil' Inker Designs

Tools: corner rounder by Fiskars

Rainbow & Clouds die by Lil' Inker Designs 

Polka Dot EF by Cuttlebug

Sweet Stamp Shop New Release!

Welcome to another New Release Preview for

 Today is the first of a two-day blog hop, so if you've come

here from the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog, then you are

in the perfect place.  If not, it's just one stop back and if

you visit each of the designer's blogs & leave a little

love on each, you could win the new releases!

  I am kinda hooked on pears this season and I
think I might just have every die cut and embossing folder that has
a pear-theme to it : )
I broke out one of my newer Fiskar's punches to create
these fab pears with the help of the new stamp set
'Against the Grain' from Sweet Stamp Shop.
I am not at all happy with the way this card photographed as it's
difficult to tell the that I actually used three different shades of green
to stamp the image, which is actually a large background image.
I then punched out the pears from different sections of the image
to give each pear a different 'texture'.

This photo shows the colors a bit more clearly.
Of course, I used my favorite inks from
A Muse Studio...in Lichen, Grass & Fern.
They are available from my web store here.


I hope you will check out the new images from Sweet Stamp Shop
because as of today, they are now for sale.
Now, how about THIS for a GREAT OFFER...

If you buy one of the new releases, you will be able to purchase
the second one at 40% off!!!
You still have a chance to win as well.

Here is how...

To be eligible for stamp set a day:

**Make sure to visit each blog on the hop.

There are only 9 blogs each day, so it's a very 'do-able' hop!

**Leave an 'original' comment on each designers' blog.

(no copy and pasting, please)

**Be sure to follow the Sweet Stamp Shop blog and while you're at it,

our designers would love for you to follow them as well

For additional entries:

**Like our FB page

**Share our giveaway & blog hop with your friends

and leave us a note either on our FB page or on the SSS Blog

It is now time to send you on to my very talented friend, 

Savannah O'Gwynn

Have a great time on the hop!

Project Recipe: 

Paper Kit: Lichen, Grass & Fern from A Muse Studio
Stamps: Against the Grain by Sweet Stamp Shop

Embellishments: tiny pearls from Recollections 
Tools: Pear punch by Fiskars

Sentimental Journey

I love these colors together...

 and with this stamp design, it really works well. 

Welcome to another New Release Preview for

 Today is the first of a two-day blog hop, so if you've come

here from the Sweet Stamp Shop Blog, then you are

in the perfect place.  If not, it's just one stop back and if

you visit each of the designer's blogs & leave a little

love on each, you could win the new releases!

 

 

This new release is called 'Sentimental Birds'.

I love the simplicity of the silhouettes.

This particular stamp is actually a straight branch of birds, but I like the idea of

the curved lines, so I simply 'bent' them slightly when I placed them on the 

acrylic block and got the affect I was looking for.

The rest of the elements here 

(with the exception of the baker's twine from The Twinery)

came from the January kit by Paper Made Bakery and includes

beautiful Bazzill cardstock and paper from Authentique's 'Blissful'

collection.  The beautiful seam binding and the matching button

really gave it a nice accent.

I really am happy you came by today and hope you enjoy

the inspiration that you find along the hop today.

Before you go, here is the 'fine print' that I need to

remind you of and THEN it's time to send you on your way....

To be eligible for stamp set a day:

**Make sure to visit each blog on the hop.

There are only 9 blogs each day, so it's a very 'do-able' hop!

**Leave an 'original' comment on each designers' blog.

(no copy and pasting, please)

**Be sure to follow the Sweet Stamp Shop blog and while you're at it,

our designers would love for you to follow them as well

For additional entries:

**Like our FB page

**Share our giveaway & blog hop with your friends

and leave us a note either on our FB page or on the SSS Blog

It is now time to send you on to my very talented friend, 

Savannah O'Gwynn

Have a great time on the hop!

Project Recipe: 

Paper Kit: Paper Made Bakery
Stamps: Sentimental Birds by Sweet Stamp Shop

Embellishments: Bakers Twine in Buttercream from The Twinery
Tools: Arch border punch by EK Success

Celebrate!

Since this is my first post of the 2012, let me wish you a....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

What a great way to kick things off, with the

first challenge of 2012 over at

 

 

 and how fun because YOU could be one of our 'Temps'

as a Guest Designer!

All the details are over at CAS-ual Fridays!

 This week's challenge is to use chipboard and mine are from

Pink Paislee's 'Soiree' collection.  They are actually dimensional stickers

which I am calling chipboard 'light' : )

I've embossed the background with the large Polka Dot EF from

Cuttlebug and stamped this fun sentiment from Paper Smooches.

We are super excited to have

as this week's sponsor and don't forget, not only will this week's

winner have a fantastic shopping spree from Simon Says Stamps

but they will also win a spot as a Guest Designer

at CAS-ual Fridays!!!

Can't wait to see you there!!!

Project Recipe:

Stamps: Sentiment Sampler from Paper Smooches

Ink: Tuxedo Black by Momento from A Muse Studio

Embellishments: Pearls from Recollections

'Soiree' 3-D Stickers from Pink Paislee

Tools: Polka Dot EF by Cuttlebug, Big Shot