Blog-aversary giveaway!

Happy birthday to this blog!

As of today I've been blogging for five years (since January 2007).

There have been happy times, sad events, yummy food, lulls in posting, and lots of stamping.

 *smile*

In honor of all the amazing friends I've made through the years, and the friendships that have developed because of this incredible hobby, I want to give something back...

Let's have a giveaway, shall we?

WAYS TO WIN:

1. Follow my blog by clicking "JOIN" over on the left, and leave me a comment letting me know you are now (or already are) a follower.

2. Leave a comment suggesting a great book to read.

3. Do both of the above for two entries!

I totally get that some folks may not want to follow yet another blog, so it's not required to enter, but if you do follow me or begin to follow me I will appreciate you and love you to pieces, so those of you who do will get an extra entry!

What could you win?

 Your choice of a $20 gift certificate to one of the stores below:

Denami Design

Practicing Creativity Designs

WPlus9

Verve

Wilson Designs

A winner will be chosen and announced 1 week from today on February 7.

And just because it's fun, lets look at a card I posted way back when I first started this blog in 2007. Ha!

I can see all the ways I'd change this card now, but that's the beauty of growth and changing styles, right?  Boy was I into DTP inking! *grin*

So thanks for stopping by, and be sure to leave a comment about your favorite book and/or follow me to enter the giveaway. You have until next Monday to enter!

Here's to many more years of online stamping and blogging fun!

*mwah*

CAS-ual Friday (sketch)

Its that time again... 

A new CAS-ual Friday challenge is up and ready!

And let me just say that last week was AWESOME! What a turn out! 

So many gorgeous/clever/unique B&W cards were submitted. 

I was seriously in awe.

This week it's a sketch.

Now, some of you know that I am TERRIBLE at actually following sketches exactly. I always feel the need to flip or rotate or otherwise move things around a bit. 

I've never been good at "staying inside the lines" in real life either. 

*grin*

I turned this sketch completely upside down, and made that square a bit...more shapely should I say? *chuckle*

We are sponsored by Sweet and Sassy stamps this week, and they have some really great clear stamps, so if you are feeling the need for retail therapy check them out!

I'd really love to see some more amazing cards this week, so be sure to link up your project using Laura's sketch to the challenge site! 

Thanks for stopping by, Have a great weekend!

*mwah*

Love

Do you ever make a card and then surprise yourself with how much you like it? 

Well this one did that for me. I was almost in a trance while I was stamping and cutting away...not really even paying attention to what I was doing. Then all of a sudden I focused and was so shocked to see this cute card! *chuckle*

I'm allowed to say that, right?

That I like my own card?

Hope so, because I surely do. *smile*

This awesome scripty love sentiment is on sale this week at Denami. It's perfect for all your St. Valentine's Day needs. What says it better, right?

Supplies: White, red, black cardstock, Script Love stamp, red grosgrain ribbon, sheer white ribbon, a scrap of patterned paper, white e.p, versamark, paper rose, and heart pins.

Grab this gorgeous stamp while it's on sale this week only, and be sure to check out the Denami blog for some really pretty cards using it too!.

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

CAS-ual Friday (B&W)

WOW, I guess it's been a busy week for me. My last post was a week ago now, and although I  actually have several things to post I just can't find the time to do so. *smile*

By today is all about the newest CAS-ual Friday challenge!

Yep, its black & white time crafty friends!

There is something so simple about black and white that makes it seem elegant, clean, and...primal almost.

Before there was color, there was black and white. The absence and the presence of light! What could be more CAS than that?

I used three sets by PTI. A new one called something Stitches, or Stiches and something...can't recall! *chuckle* And a sentiment from Wedding Day, and the tiny hearts from Love Lives Here: Holiday. All CS and ribbon are also PTI. white e.p is Sparkle n Sprinkle (my favorite e.p. maker ever!)

We are sponsored by Cindy Coutts this week.

Last week was a blast with all the scallop goodness out there in blogland, won't you play again?

Come join in on the fun with CAS-ual Fridays and link up your clean & simple, black & white project!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

CAS-ual Friday (scallops)

I'm so glad it's Friday. 

Is everyone else's life as hectic as mine? *chuckle*

School is closed today for teacher conferences so I took the day off work and the boys and I are going to play board games and hang out. They always beg me to make hot tea and use my small Japanese teapot and matching cups that were a wedding present. 

Who'd a thunk it?! LOL

So this week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays is to use scallops. 

Let me just tell you that the DT came up with some really clever ideas!

I went with boring, but it works. *grin*

Using a large square scallop nestie I cut out the card base and another piece using textured sky blue CS. Then I grabbed both my regular and mini scallop scissors and cut a thin white border. The branch is a sizzix die, and the sentiment is from the Stamps of Life.

Our sponsor this week is Annabelle Stamps. Not only do they carry stamps, but they have the BEST collection of pearls out there! So many different sizes to choose from. *sigh* They also carry colored twine that is to die for. Check them out!

So join us at CAS-ual Fridays this week! Show us your "highs and lows!" Lets see what YOU do with scallops.

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

Multiple hearts

Yes.

This is my third post in three days.

(Don't get used to it.)

No, I'm not turning over a new leaf nor have I made any resolutions to blog more. 

*chuckle*

I'm just showcasing the newest product spotlight for Denami today...the small heart outline stamp!

It's on sale all week, and it is perfect for those valentines that you want to make!

One of my favorite ways to use outline stamps is to paper piece with them, so that's what I did here.

I grabbed a few patterned papers (Denami's Paisley sampler and Watermelon sampler, and some other random one that was lying in my studio), and the Petal Pink cardstock, and went to town stamping and cutting out my hearts! After popping them up on dimensionals, I added a thin black grosgrain ribbon and stamped the decorative love sentiment in black.

There are lots of ways to utilize this adorable heart outline stamp, so be sure to check out the Denami blog today for all the DT samples. So much inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

Anything Goes Challenge

So although it's a new year, I'm still sending out Holiday thank you cards to friends and family.

I made several different designs and then made multiple copies of each.

This one was one of my favorites.

And I'm using it for the ANYTHING GOES challenge up at the Denami blog today.

Sometimes being able to make anything can be daunting, but I think it's a perfect way to start the new year! 

Denami sells many styles of tree stamps, but this is one of my favorites. It's so realistic looking yet easy to cut around. I hand drew a simple white frame around the card base, stamped and fussy cut the Large Pine tree out, and popped up the presents after stamping the upright Thank You sentiment on them. A quick border with gel pen dots and a thin silk ribbon finish it off.

I used the gorgeous Sky Blue textured CS for the gifts, and the Red CS for the border. 

Join us for this 'Anything Goes" challenge! The first Denami challenge of the new year! 

Link your project up on the blog for a chance to win.

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

Valentine Blog Hop

Welcome to the Denami Valentine Blog Hop!

I'm delighted your stopped in and hope you'll leave a comment for a chance to win a fabulous $20 gift Certificate to the Denami Store!

You should have come from Carol's blog, but see the Denami blog for a full list of participants.

So can you tell what this is supposed to be? 

I was trying to create the back of a bustier...not sure if it worked or not though.

After lacing two sheets of Black CS together with eyelets and sheer ribbon, I cut a small curve to show the waist. The bustier is decorated with white decorative flourishes, and topped off with a simple love sentiment and two interlocking hearts. The petal pink CS is just the nicest shade.

Your next stop on this Valentine Hop is the blog of the incredibly talented Emily! 

Remember to leave a comment on each blog to increase your chances of winning one of two $20 gift certificates to the Denami Store. 

You have until  January 9, 2012, 11:59 pm PST to comment on each blog!

Thanks for stopping by,

*Mwah*

CAS-ual Friday GD search!

Happy New Year peeps!

I'm wishing for a healthy, happy 2012 for all of you and your loved ones too.

This week's challenge at the CAS-ual Friday blog is a special one. It marks the start of something new that we will be doing all year. The first challenge winner of each month will not only win the CAS-tacular prize, but ALSO win a guest designer position as a temp with the CAS-ual Friday team! 

This week's winner will be guest designing with us in February. 

*eeeeek!*

So...the challenge is to use chipboard.

And our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp!

I used Versamark and inked up a huge BG stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms for my card front. I heat embossed with Grapefruit Zing e.p.  That stuff rocks. See how opaque it is...even on dark grey CS! Then I covered a random chipboard shape with white CS and stamped it with a sentiment from For the Love of Dots by Practicing Creativity. A tiny piece of twine finished it off.

I hope you'll join us this week for the chipboard challenge!

Can't wait to see who our first guest designer of the year will be!

Have a good one,

*mwah*

CAS-ual Friday

Can you believe how fast time flies? When I was a kid, a year seemed like forever. 

Seriously.

But an entire week has gone by and I've not posted any of the things I've been creating. *sigh*

Today at least I'm popping in with a new CAS-ual Friday challenge.

(and don't blame me if you start singing...*wink*)

You must use Kraft and twine on your project for this 2-week challenge!

I wrapped my aqua twine from The Twinery around simple punched squares of kraft and adhered them to a white mat on an orange base. Stamped the sentiment in two colors (I did the orange word first) and called it done!

clean. and. simple.

The sentiment is from a new set by Market Street Stamps (called It Takes Love) and they are also our sponsor this round!  Check out their challenge as well! 

Please join us for this two week long challenge and show us your kraft and twine!

All the DT girls received some fabulous Market Street Stamps to play with so be sure to check out the blog for lots of clever ideas.

Have a Blessed Yule, 

a Merry Christmas, 

a Happy Hanukkah, 

or whatever else it is you might  (or might not) celebrate!

*Mwah*

CAS-ual Friday (add an envelope)

This week's challenge at the CAS-ual Friday blog is to make a coordinating envelope to match your clean & simple card.

Here's my confession:

I have never made a coordinating envelope before.

*shock*

I know, I know...

I used to be really big into mail art and made many, many stamped envelopes and other mail-able art, but never did I make one to coordinate with my card before now! *chuckle*

I used some new Ippity stamps that I purchased from the lovely and talented Sherri Thompson in her Etsy shop. She is the generous sponsor this week of all the DT gals and also the prize!

This set is called The Simple Things.

I taped down a rectangle nestie, sponged ink inside, removed the nestie and stamped the long stem on top before adding the sentiment. Simple and quick. The envelope liner was made by stamping that same flower head multiple times in monochromatic pinks.

I hope you'll play along with us! 

Just link up your project and coordinating envelope on the CAS-ual Friday blog!

*mwah*

Gift Wrapping Blog Hop

Welcome to the Denami December Blog Hop!

If you are joining us today and are following the blog hop order, you should have arrived from Rochelle's amazing blog. For a list of all participants and more details, check out the Denami Blog.

This month's blog hop is all about the GIFT WRAPPING!

I love using stamps to personalize a package or to literally create my own gift wrapping. 

It's just one more way of creating the perfect gift for that special someone. *smile*

Denami has a great downloadable template to make a very similar box, or you can purchase a package of 10 of them all ready to go!

I used the Small Solid Holly Leaves and stamped them all over the box made from kraft cardstock before adding several of the tiny ruby red boutique buttons. The tag was made with the Scroll stamp.

 I just love using that Scroll for name tags!

I finished it off with a bow using an older piece of ribbon but you could substitute Denami's Red Glitter Ribbon instead for some true sparkle! 

Your next stop on the hop is Barbara, but be sure to leave a comment here before you go for a chance to win one of TWO $20 Denami gift certificates! If you comment on every blog in the hop your name will be in the running!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are having a fabulous day.

*mwah*

CAS-ual Friday misting

I'm back with another new challenge for the CAS-ual Friday blog.

We were challenged to use a misting product or technique this week. I didn't get fancy, just a simple spritz of some glimmer mist, but you could easily make your own too! 

Other ideas:

1. Mask off part of your card, then spray. Remove mask to see results.

2. Dip a paintbrush or old toothbrush in some reinker and splatter by running a finger along the bristles or flicking it at the paper.

3.  Add fine water droplets to your background of distress inked paper.

4.  Utilize an airbrush system or marker misting tool.

5. Channel your inner child and spray ink or paint from a brush onto paper by blowing through a straw.

We were sponsored by Sweet Stamp Shop and got to work with a stamp set of our choice!

I chose Old School Rock and it's such a fun retro set, especially if you were of the 80s walkman/leg warmer persuasion as a teen! LOL (am I dating myself here?)

I hope you join us this week and give misting a try!

Thanks for stopping by,

Have a fabby weekend!

*mwah*

Christmas challenge

Hello blogging friends!

I'm popping in to share my card for the Denami Christmas Theme Challenge and I hope you'll play along with us.

I used the Pine Strand to stamp the backdrop on my Celery cardstock first, then used the Contempo Christmas sentiment on a die cut panel and added the Holly Leaves that I fussy cut on top!

I love this simple card and it would be great for reproducing en masse, don't you think?

Join us for this challenge because the winner gets a gift certificate to the Denami store!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*

CAS-UAL Friday (tic tac toe)

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm in a super good mood today and have a fun time lined up for this evening so I'm a bit giddy! *chuckle*

I hope you all had a chance to play along with our last CAS-ual Friday challenge. The two week time frame was fun, right?

This week it's even better!

Choose your row of three and get creative!

I clearly chose the PINK, CHEVRONS, AQUA row, and I have to say that I love this simple and clean card that just happened to fall into place.  I love that chevron stamp from the You're The Man set at PCD, and the words are from For The Love Of Dots! 

We are sponsored this week by the Paper Temptress and she mailed each of us Girl Fridays a whole slew of paper. Only mine didn't arrive in time so I had to use my own *pout*

But check out what the store has anyway because I'm sure you'll find something!

I can't wait to see what you come up with for this week's clean and simple challenge!

Thanks for stopping by,

*mwah*