Winter is Here!

Happy belated Christmas! I hope everyone enjoyed the DCRU and PGP blog hops I've been a part of the last couple of weeks. This week at Die Cuts R Us we are having special Guest Designers to share inspiration with all of you! Our first Guest Designer is my sweet and crafty friend Jenn Koss! Check out her amazing treat box! And don't forget, each day a new Guest Designer will share a special creation!

Now a winner! I used random.org to find the winner of my mini kit for the DCRU hop! And it is Laura of Crafty Little Woman (aka Madeleine Bouquet). Just e-mail me Laura and I'll get your package in the mail. And if you are a fan of Twilight, check out Laura's blog post for today!
Ready for some creating? I've got 2 cards to share today. The first I made in honor of New Years. I decided to add a little color to the holiday:



My next card is a Valentine:



I'm in love with my new Martha Stewart butterfly punch I used for this card! I've had my eye on it a while, just hated to pay so much for a punch. So word of advice, go to Michaels.com and print a coupon before you visit their store. Then you can get your punch cheaper! I used Papertrey Ink patterned paper to punch 2 butterflies and then layered them.

And I have some happy animal news. We have a new animal rescue in the area, the Appalachian SPCA! Click on their name to follow the link! And I would be greatful if you would become a follower if you have Facebook. They are trying to reach 1000 followers by 2010! Their Facebook link is on their homepage!

Guess what, it's white outside AGAIN! More snow and more expected for the New Year! I've already got Spring Fever!

Enjoy!

DCRU Blog Hop

Merry Christmas and welcome to the Die Cuts R Us Blog Hop! If you just happened by, please visit the Die Cuts R Us DT Blog to start the hop. And if you are already playing along, you should have arrived from the lovely and talented Cara's Blog.

We know many of you are stressed to the max with holiday plans. Hopefully a little blog hop is just what the doctor ordered! So sit back with a warm cup of cocoa and enjoy the inspiration and a chance to win a gift!

For the hop, each DT member picked their favorite product in the Die Cuts R Us Store and used that as the inspiration behind their project. This was an easy one for me! My favorite and most used product out there is my Cuttlebug. I use it on most every project I create, whether it's embossing or die cutting. It is such an affordable way to add spice to any project. And the embossing folders are super cheap!

For my project I made a fun gift perfect for neighbors, teachers, etc. I love embellishing bottles, so cute.



So I took this Sobie bottle (love their shape) and made a sweet Christmas treat.
I added pieces of ribbon to hide the bottle name. Then I embossed a piece of cardstock using my Cuttlebug and the Houndstooth folder. I added a big gingham bow. Then I used white Prima Flowers and sprayed them with Peppermint Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels. I added a chipboard star to top my flowers off. For my bottle top, I wanted to hide the cap. So I cut a felt circle using pinking shears then just covered the cap. I added a cute tag. Now fill the bottle with any candy, hot chocolate mix, whatever you can dream of. Your recepient will get a sweet present and a pretty momento of the holidays.

I wanted to add a card to my project.



This card was made using Grapic 45 paper. I added ribbon, a rub-on, and inked the edges of my card. I embossed the top of my card using my Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots Folder. I then inked the dots to make them stand out. See my chipboard card? It's not really chipboard! I cut it out of basic cardboard and painted it white with Tim Holtz crackle paint then added glitter. Cheap and easy faux chipboard : )



Now for my secret word. Got your pen ready? CHIMNEY!

And for a second chance at a prize, I'm giving away a little mini kit in honor of the DCRU Blog Hop. Just become a follower of mine and leave a comment and I'll randomly pick a winner at the end of the hop!

And don't forget the Epic Giveaway going on now at DCRU DT Blog - please stop by for your chance to win!

Your next stop is the sweet and crafty Claudia! Have fun!!!

Winter Wonderland Blog Hop

Hi everyone! Welcome to the Paper Garden Projects Winter Wonderland Blog Hop! So grab a cup of hot cocoa and come walk in our snowy garden! You should have arrived here from Tracy's Blog. If you just happened to stop by, visit Paper Garden Projects blog to start the hop!

While you visit, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their Secret Snow Word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their Secret Snow Word.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a special frosty prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Dec. 21 to sent your snow-y list.

For the hop I decided to show you a terrific new set of stamps from PGP and new papers available! I couldn't pick just 1 card as a favorite, so I decided to show you all of my creations with the Winter Wonderland Friends stamp set:









Check out the Frosted Winter Paper Kit I used to create these cards, available at PGP! The patterned papers, cardstock, and ribbon coordinate perfectly and make crafting simple! And look at the adorable Winter Wonderland Friends Stamps that I used.

I hope you've enjoyed a little walk in a wonderful Winter Wonderland. Now for my secret snow word - BRIGHT! The next stop along the hop is Lorelie.

Enjoy!

Naughty Or Nice

It's Tuesday and that means a new challenge at the Die Cuts R Us DT Blog! This week's challenge is to make a project with the theme "Naughty or Nice". You can interpret this any way you like and make any kind of project you want.

I decided I would make a "nice" project that is a gift idea. I made a mini album that I plan to add Christmas photo's to after the holidays:



Here's a close-up of my embellishments:



I used my Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Spellbinder Nestabilities - all of these products are available at the DCRU store. I also used a Colorbok Mini Album, Martha Stewart Ribbon, My Mind's Eye Paper, PTI Ribbon, Making Memories Chipboard, and a Melissa Frances Rub-On.

Be sure to play along. And don't forget about the Epic Giveaway at DCRU!

DCRU Spotlight & Giveaway!

Hi everyone! I'm Spotlighting the "Friendship" stamps from Just Rite Stampers today at DCRU! I wanted to share the cards I made for this spotlight on my blog:





I needed a little "Christmas Break"! So I decided to make a couple of Springy cards!

Visit the DCRU DT Blog to take a look at my Spotlight & check out the DCRU Epic Giveaway and what you can do to win!!!

DCRU Challenge

Today is challenge day at Die Cuts R Us DT Blog! This week is a fun one! Create a project with a holiday feel! Now I know if you haven't already done this, that you will be soon....so just post it on your blog and add the link at DCRU to join the festivities!

This week I decided on a different type of project. Is it a gift, nope. Is it a card, no again. I decided on a layout of last Christmas: a gift to myself, lol! Kinda selfish, but I enjoy memories!


(Click the Picture for a Close-Up)

This LO is near and dear to my heart just because of the great picture of my Papaw! We got him a fruit basket with a ham. He LOVES to eat better than anyone I know, so he just loved his present.

The second picture is of me (I was going thru a brown hair phase at the time) and my cousin's little girl.

The frames for my photos and stamps are Spellbinder Nestabilities. The Die Cuts R Us Store has a ton of "Nesties" that are perfect backgrounds for pictures. They make creating LO's easy!

I also used Fancy Pants Paper and Chipboard, Cosmo Cricket Ribbon, Stickles, Tim Holtz Distress paint, buttons, Fiskars Scalloped punch, Marvy Punch, and PTI Stamps.

Here's a close-up of my decorations:




Enjoy!!!

Snowy Saturday

The weather man was forcasting snow, but I had to see it to believe it! We got 3 inchs of snow today and it was picture perfect.

Here's a picture of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains covered in snow:



And take a look at the Magnolia tree in white:



Such a beautiful Saturday!

And who's finished their Christmas cards? Not me!! Take a look at the mess!



Hope you have a terrific weekend!

Die Cuts R Us Challenge

It's time for a new challenge at Die Cuts R Us! This week's challenge is all about gift giving! Create a project that can be given as a gift. It can be a LO, card, or altered item. Be sure to leave your link on Mr. Linky at the DCRU DT Blog.

I had so much fun with my project. I was inspired by a recent creation of Michelle Wooderson's. I wanted to make a craft kit, with all the goodies that you need to make a creation. So I made a card kit.



I started with a clear card box from Paper Garden Projects. I wrapped a portion of my box with red PTI paper. I used my Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots folder to emboss the center of my paper, that would be on the front of my box. I then added a pretty bow and a pink flower Christmas decoration.



Then I added cards made by My Mind's Eye. I used my Cuttlebug and Spellbinder Nestabilities to cut out die cuts and then stamped them with sentiments by PTI. So the recipient will only have to add the premade sentiments to their card.



I also added buttons, flowers, and ribbon to my little kit. Everything a crafty cardmaker would need to make a quick creation.



Visit Die Cuts R Us Store, where the Cuttlebug, embossing folders, and Spellbinder Nestabilties are available. And visit the DCRU DT Blog to see the DT's beautiful creations. And be sure to play along!

Enjoy!!!

Paper Garden Projects Challenge

I'm so excited. OK, yes I'm excited for Black Friday....but I'm also excited because today is my first challenge with Paper Garden Projects. Our super challenge is to make a card, project, LO using a background stamp. Or use a stamp to make your own background. Be creative and have fun!

I had the opportunity to play with the Cover-a-card Greenery cling stamp by Impression Obsession. This stamp is available at Paper Garden Projects, just click the store name for the direct link. I had never used a background stamp, but now I'm addicted. There are soooooo many possibilities with these stamps! Here is my creation:



I used my Impression Obsession stamp. A Melissa Frances Rub-On and Prima Flower. I used my Spellbinder Nestabilities to cut small scalloped squares. I then took PTI cardstock and stamped it with a matching ink color. I stitched around each sqaure and then adhered them to my card. So easy and a different way to use a background stamp.

Here's the link to the Paper Garden Projects Challenge. Up for grabs are two fabulous background stamps. And if you make a "black" card in honor of Black Friday, you can double your chance of winning! So be sure to play along!

And a quick note. The winner of my Twilight Tuesday blog candy is Tamara Bennett!! Just e-mail me with your addy and I'll get your goodies in the mail!

Enjoy!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope all my blog buddies have enjoyed the parade, the good food, and now some football! This week at Die Cuts R us each DT member has made a project and shared what she is thankful for. I wanted to share my Blessings book with you:







I have to work this Thanksgiving. But I am thankful God has given me the opportunity to help sick children thru the holidays. It really was a wake-up call my first year as a nurse when I had to work during the holidays. I never thought about who would take care of the sick during this time. It really made me realize just how blessed I was. It made me realize that the holidays are less about a "date" on the calendar and more about the love in your heart.
We often get caught up in the activity of the holidays and forget about the sick, the troops, the less fortunate. Keep these people in your Prayers.

Hope you have a very merry Turkey Day!!!

A True Friend: Challenge 59

I'm so excited to take part in my first challenge as a Design Team Member for A True Friend Challenge Blog! ATF is dedicated to scrapping your pets! This week's challenge is to scrap WINTER NIGHTS with your pets. Does your little friend have certain traditions this time of year? Scrap it and share it with us! Leave a comment at A True Friends Blog so we can see your creation!

Now to share my LO with you. Here is my Baby Jake:



Jake hates cold weather. So he is my little snuggle buddy this time of the year. He loves lying in bed and burrowing under the covers. And he doesn't like to be woke up early!

For this LO I used Cosmo Cricket Lil Man paper, chipboard, and rub-ons. I also used Fancy Pants Chipboard and American Crafts Thickers. I used a Martha Stewart punch and Papertrey Ink ribbon.

Visit A True Friend to see all of the Design Teams fabulous LO's!

Paper Garden Projects Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the first ever Paper Garden Projects Garden Walk blog hop.
Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some wonderful Holiday inspiration.

While you visit, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their special treat listed in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their special Holiday treat.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and treats will be entered in a random drawing to win one of 3 prizes. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Nov. 24 to make your list and check it twice....

The first prize is a festive collection of Holiday paper crafting goodies.

The prize includes:

The Classic Christmas Prism Cardstock Collection
A Penny Black Jolly Follies clear stamp set
Green self adhesive rhinestones
May Arts red grosgrain ribbon
May Arts tan twill ribbon
May Arts white rickrack ribbon
A collection of coordinating dew droplets and buttons

The second prize is a $7 gift certificate to the Paper Garden Projects store.

The third prize is a $5 gift certificate to the Paper Garden Projects store.

So put on your walking shoes and go for a garden tour:

If you just happened to stop by my blog, then you need to start at the top of the list to get all your information:

Melissa (Mel)

Tracy

Debbie

Amber (You Are Here)

Lorelie

Tangii

Tricia

Cathy

Now for my Christmas treat....Twinkling Lights!

For this project I knew the exact stamp to make the perfect card. I used a Penny Black stamp from the set Christmas Critters, cardstock and ribbon available at Paper Garden Projects. The little mice are looking at the TWINKLING LIGHT of the lantern.



I then took my Cover-a-card Greenery cling stamp available at Paper Garden Projects and stamped a strip of paper. I used a glass candle holder and wrapped my stamped paper around it and added ribbon and a bow. I added ornaments to my holder and for a perfect centerpiece. Just add a candle or TWINKLING LIGHTS!



Now it's time for your next stop during our garden walk, Lorelie. And don't forget my special holiday treat is TWINKLING LIGHTS : )

Twilight Tuesday Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Twilight Tuesday NEW MOON blog hop! I am so happy to get to take part in the hop as a Guest Designer. If you just happened upon my blog, visit Twilight Tuesday to get started. The blog hop is in honor of the release of the 2nd movie in the Twilight Saga, NEW MOON! Based on the bestselling book my Stephenie Meyer.





You should have arrived here after visiting Juanita's Blog.

Now for my New Moon creation. This has been one of my favorite projects ever! An invitation to Bella's Birthday Party. I felt like this was fitting because New Moon would have never taken place without the Birthday Party!



For my invitation I used apple chipboard from Oriental Trading Company. Covered it in black PTI Cardstock. I then tore a cardboard box up and used a shredded piece to add to the front of my invitation. I then painted it with Tim Holtz Crackle paint. I used an Edward's handwriting font that I found for free, click here for the link. I also used my Spellbinder Nestabilities.

The inside of my invitation has the details of Bella's birthday party:



And now for a little Twilight fun! Leave me a comment and let me know who your favorite character is from the book and why. I will pick a random winner for some New Moon goodies!

Your next stop along the path is Jen S. For the list of all Twilight Tuesday blog hop participants, visit their blog.

Enjoy!!!