Saturday, December 5, 2009

It's the BELLA BIRTHDAY BASH!...

...and I'm so excited to be a part of it!

Welcome to the Bella Birthday Bash Blop Hop sponsored by Stamping Bella! If you've just happened upon my blog, you can CLICK HERE to start from the beginning at Bloggabella.

Today I am also combining my Crazy 4 Challenges post.  This week's Challenge is to create a GIFT CARD HOLDER.   I went through a few fancy templates, but decided that with the holidays fast approaching, I'd provide a mini-tutorial for a SUPER FAST and EASY GC Holder-seriously this couldn't be quicker!



I stamped the UBER Cute Solly-Tude stamp by Stamping Bella on neenah White CS and colored her in with my Copics.  The DP on the front here is Basic Grey Nook and Pantry-some of the YUMMIEST DP out there right now!






For my gift card holder, I took a 5 1/2 x 8" piece of Brown PTI Cardstock and scored it the long way at 1 1/2 inches, and then scored it in the middle lengthwise at 4".






I then cut 2 pieces of this ADORABLE Basic Grey Nook and Pantry DP and cut it 3 1/2 by 3 1/2 on the left side (the side you can write your greeting in) and then 3 1/2 by 3 on the right side.   I printed out a simple "To and From" on white paper to adhere to the flap of the gift card holder on the right side, where the card goes.



All you need to do to tape down the folder side is some strong adhesive and make two strips, one on each side of the flap.

Last but not least, I glued down some Berry Sorbet ribbon on the backside and fed it underneath the main image on the front to tie it all together, literally.  Seriously, the whole thing took me MAYBE 15 minutes.


Now, what's EVEN MORE fun about today's hop?  THE PRIZES!!!


Three gift certificates for $100 in Bella Bucks will be hidden along the hop, but we’re not telling you where so be sure to leave some love as you hop!!! Make sure you leave comments on every post so you have a chance to win!! The winners will be announced on Monday, December 7 at the Stamping Bella Blog


Thanks so much for stopping by! Now it's time to hop on over to OLGA's blog!

Thanks so much for coming by, and as Em herself would say...MWAH!

Friday, December 4, 2009

These Kids have got FLAIR...



...and I've been waiting impatiently to show them off to you, LOL!

{{{Oh, and if you have time,  PLEASE scroll down for this week's FARM FRESH FRIDAY post for THE GREETING FARM, too!  Thanks so much!}}}

I am extra excited about today's Friends with Flair post because it's my first as the DECEMBER GUEST Designer for UNITY STAMPS!   Yay!   I have received SUCH a warm welcome from you guys this week, I swear, I'm STILL floating on cloud 9!   Thank you SO much for all of your comments and encouragement-you really know how to make a gal feel good!

Another thing that will always have me beaming is my family.   Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, you may or may not have seen my "I'm Thankful For" post on the DieCuts R Us DT blog.   Well, I'm sharing that project with you here today and it's super close to my heart.

I really enjoyed using the NOVEMBER KOTM from UNITY to create this little accordion book from Quickutz (the book, and the American Crafts papers are available at DCRU).



The swirly frame-type stamp was PERFECT for the outside of the book and then the inside's little "Tickets" were just the right size to embellish the inside of the book, containing this year's pics of my four beautiful kiddos.


I am so thankful for these amazing little people it would take me all day to tell you why....even longer, maybe.   These four kids are the HEART, the SOUL and the REASON behind everything I do and I'm honored to share them with you.


This is just the right size to fit in my purse-LOVE that!  I even got to use the cute stitchy "Handmade by" stamp, also part of the November KOTM!   

Here's a few things you should know before I go...

*CHECK OUT the UNITY BLOG today...there is a HUGE weekend sale going on and also a complete list of FWF participants today!   ONE lucky commenter/participant who finds the "FWF Blinkie" can win 100 stamps from UNITY!

*The DECEMBER KOTM is now available to view HERE.   Want to see some peeks of projects using the December Kit?   SCROLL DOWN to my Thursday, Wednesday, and Tuesday posts from this past week to see them as well as links to the rest of the AMAZING Unity DT! 

Last but not least, I leave you with probably my favorite quote about being a Mom.  It tugs at my heartstrings and really speaks to me every time I read it.  In fact, I'm thinking about having it inscribed on a bracelet or necklace or something because I love it SO much....

"  Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."   ~Elizabeth Stone

Farm Fresh Friday is gettin' COLORFUL...

...with their FIRST color challenge!

Hey all...TGIF!  I say that though being totally excited about my post for tomorrow so maybe I shouldn't say that LOL!

At any rate, Friday's are Farm Fresh at The Greeting Farm!   We have a brand new type of challenge for you as we are introducing some COLOR CHALLENGES  to the mix.  Here is this week's Combo:


LOVE these colors together!


I used this week's MOJO115 sketch and had a blast coloring in this new "Chibi Cupcake" digital stamp, just released this past Tuesday.  Isn't she the CUTEST?  I love her happy little face!  She makes me smile...now only if she was here cuz I could REALLY use a pink-frosted cupcake today, hee hee.   I was just excited, too, that this color combo just so happened to compliment the BasicGrey "Nook and pantry" line of DP which I just think is super yummy!

Be sure to check out the TGF BLOG today to see all the awesomely colorful creations from our DT.  These girls are seriously amazing!

See you back here tomorrow!  HUGS!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Strong as a Tree...you+me....UNITY...


"To be able to walk under the branches of a tree that you have planted is really to feel you have
arrived with your garden.  So far we are on the way: we can now stand beside ours".
-  Mirabel Osler


 When I saw this quote, I just kind of smiled for a little while....this post is dedicated to my DH....because we really do everything in UNITY and I really just sat and thought a while about the "Tree" we've planted and to be able to walk under its sheltering branches one day was really a beautiful metaphor... for the 10 years we've been married, 4 children, a beautiful new home...it just really resonated with me.


While we definitely have more growing to do, we can definitely stand beside our little "Tree".



When I saw this BEAUTIFUL tree from the UNITY STAMP CO. December Kit of the Month , I was so excited.  Man,  NO ONE does trees like UNITY!  Am I right?  I'm so excited about this month's Kit, {Delightful Moments}...and all of the images and sentiments that come with it!  Are you new to the Kit of the Month?  I've been hooked for several months now and I'm telling you for $24 you get a LOT of sweet rubbah!   


You can check out all the deets on signing up for the Kit HERE.



I used the Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg DP to create my card today.  I really like the colors of Fall in this paper pack.  Pairing the tree with the sentiment "Your LOVE is my STRENGTH" seemed so perfect for the above quote.  I really hope he enjoys it...and hope YOU do too!


Well, before I go, be sure to check out the rest of the UBER talented Unity DT peeps that I am so honored to be working with this month:

 Thanks so much for stopping by today and I will be back tomorrow with Farm Fresh Friday with The Greeting Farm, AND Friends with Flair for UNITY!  Be sure to check out the UNITY BLOG today because there is a "Garage Sale" special and TONS of sets for 50% OFF!!!!



Want ANOTHER peek of the UNITY Dec KOTM?  If you didn't get a chance to stop by my blog yesterday, you can scroll down or click HERE to see something I'm just...well...SMITTEN with ;)


I'll leave you with two more pretty awesomated quotes I love about TREES...


"Do not be afraid to go out on a limb ... That's where the fruit is."
-   Anonymous


"Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit."
-   Khalil Gibran

Want to WIN a Greeting Farm Stamp TODAY?!

Hey peeps,

Super quick (and thanks for scrolling UP, actually, for my UNITY post today ;)--------------

I have a SPOTLIGHT on the DieCuts R Us DT Blog today and we're giving away a SASSY SUZI stamp to ONE LUCKY COMMENTER...so head over there now and let me know whatcha think!

Thanks!
Jess :)

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

I'm a Smitten Kitten...

...with UNITY STAMPS!


Hey everyone...

WOW.  I am still sort of trying to come back down from my little Cloud named NINE from yesterday.   It was SO exciting to receive such a warm welcome and congrats from so many of you...from so many stampers who I ADMIRE.

Anyway, yesterday meant the world to me and I thank each and every one of you for your words of encouragement-you are all amazingly supportive!

So today is Whimsical Wednesday and I have ANOTHER SAMPLE from the {DELIGHTFUL MOMENTS} , the DECEMBER Kit of the Month from UNITY STAMPS!  Seriously, if there was ANY month for me to have been asked to be the Guest Designer?  It was like they KNEW I would love this kit...and I really do!

I took a couple of images from the kit to create a vintage-type feel to my card today, using a sketch that my 7 year old little boy Nikolas designed for us.  Here's the sketch, DDSC13:


Normally i'd look at the different elements he drew and go 'HUH' for a little while to try and figure out what to do...but as soon as I saw this, I knew there would be PLEATED RIBBON!   I'm "SMITTEN" with that technique lately...so the rest just kinda fell into place.  Here's my sample:

Well, before I let you go for now, I am totally psyched to announce a NEW DAREDEVIL has joined us!  Please welcome Kris Palakiko to the Diedrich Dare DT!   Kris and I have been getting to know each other through cyberspace and I adore her enthusiasm and her dedication to leaving the sweetest comments for fellow bloggers....not to mention her fun style!   Please take a moment to WELCOME KRIS!

Don't forget to stop by the DARE BLOG today too and see what our Featured Stamper has cooked up for you today, along with the rest of our wonderful Team:
That's all I have for today...thanks SO much for stopping by-I really appreciate everything you write and I am so grateful for all of your encouragement!   Have a wonderful day everyone!  HUGS!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

“So powerful is the light of UNITY that it can illuminate the whole earth...”

Hello, everyone!!!

I have HUGE NEWS TODAY!!!!   But before I burst, I ask that you PLEASE scroll down for The GREETING FARM's BLOG HOP and Release...there are some GREAT prizes that you won't want to miss out on!

Ok, so back to my little Cloud 9 over here!!!!

"So powerful is the light of UNITY that it can illuminate the whole Earth..."  ~Baha'u'lla

I'm kinda diggin' on that quote....and if you haven't been a stranger to my blog, I'm sure it's no SECRET that I have been totally diggin' on UNITY STAMPS for a while now...
...so imagine my ABSOLUTE EXCITEMENT when I was asked by Angela Magnuson and AJ Otto, their stellar DT Coordie, to be the GUEST DESIGNER at UNITY STAMPS this month!?!?!?!  I'm still pinching myself...I am seriously SO happy I can't stand it!

I am really, really honored and can't wait to share with you the new goodies that will be coming your way shortly from Unity and also hope that you'll all hang with us for Friends with Flair Fridays which I have been LOVING the last few months!
I have a card for you today showcasing the NEW December Kit of the Month!   Are you guys all familiar with the KOTM?   It's a totally amazing array of monthly goodies for a low price ($24 per month!) and you can find out all the cool info about that HERE.


This month's kit is called {Delightful Moments}...and that is exactly what I experience stamping with these images!  I am IN LOVE with this kit, having a TOTAL BLAST creating from it, and feel like it was MEANT TO BE that this would be my month!  So, here today is my first creation using my beloved Cosmo Cricket Earth Love DP and some stitching to complete it.   I ADORE this hot air balloon image from this kit-isn't it dreamy???

Well, I will be back with MUCH more soon, and you can find me on the Unity Blog for the next few Mondays, too.   Thanks to Angela, AJ, and the UBER talented Unity DT for this amazing opportunity.  Just LOOK who I will be designing with:

I can't believe it!  So, I end this post today smiling from ear to ear...and now, be sure to scroll down for The Greeting Farm's BLOG HOP!

Thanks for sharing this awesome news with me!  It wouldn't be the same w/out ALL of you~!  xoxo