Thursday, September 30, 2010

Hip-Hoppin' into CHANGE...

Hello Hip-Hoppers!

I cannot believe another week has gone by already!   Well, Fall has definitely SWEPT in and we are going to be kickin' things up a notch here at UNITY!

Beginning next week, be on the lookout for a fun Hip-Hop theme, and in the new few weeks, a BRAND NEW UNITY Website!  And to make room for all that new, Angela has a video about a HUGE sale going on-beginning TODAY!  So be sure to start out on her BLOG and get all the deets before hoppin' with us :)

Change is DEFINITELY in the air here at Unity...and in general!  In fact, isn't that what Fall is all about?  Change?  Change is GOOD.  I used to be the kind of person who got a little overwhelmed by change.   Over the years I've definitely learned to embrace it and especially knowing that life and LOVE is constantly changing us and that sometimes change happens because it's actually for the better.   I am SO grateful for allowing change in my life because I am RIGHT. WHERE.  I. SHOULD. BE <3  Love that, too-makes it all worth it and so rewarding to see the blessings unfolding every day as a result of the decisions I've made to just kind of 'roll with it'.   It also makes it much easier getting to that next "cross road" and knowing that change can often be TRUSTED, too :)  After all, if we have to go looking around every one of life's corners and/or dictating how we should act or how things should unfold, etc., we're not going to end up very happy, right?

Anyway, I'm very grateful for the positive changes that keep on coming into my life, especially this past year or so. Knowing who really and truly is going to be there for me, getting to spend so much precious time as a family, and on the flipside, knowing who is worth spending and showering my love and attention on has been one of life's greatest blessings and has made the good really SHINE and the rest just kind of falls into place. :)  LOVE that.  Sure there might be a thing or two I'd like to change, but I have a very strong and solid faith behind any effort I've made and if I cannot change it, then it's not meant to be changed. Leave nothing unsaid-that's my motto :)   As long as that's done, then I'm ok with that :)  I don't ever like to let that chance to tell someone I love them 'pass by', as I also don't 'lay it out there' when I have to.  NOTHING left unsaid-that's a GOOD thing :) Thanks for letting me share my thoughts with you-I got such positive feedback the last time I did that you guys really just inspire me! LOVE this little blog world of ours-and that will definitely NOT change!  heehee

Anyway, I am very excited about this little group of cards today-I made them up using the new Pyrus paper line from Basic Grey, cuz they're all set for my very first UNITY CLASS I'll be teaching at my local LSS!   Hit me up if you're in the Nashville area-I'd LOVE to see you!

Here's a closeup of one of the cards we'll be doing:

REALLY love the Basic Grey bloomers too and also the sentiment-cuz we ALL need to have a little Faith, right?    I hope you like the projects today-TOMORROW is October 1st and you know what that means?  a BRAND NEW KIT of the MONTH!  Woo HOOO!!!

For now, be sure to visit Jimmi's blog next to see what she has for you all today:

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Oh-and in response to the TON of awesome comments and questions about the felt flowers on my card from yesterday, I used the MFT Dienamics Spiral die to create them w/ the felt.  The die appears to be out of stock on the MFT website right now, but I know Kim and she's awesome and restocks all the time :)   Would you guys like a tutorial on them sometime soon?  Let me know and if I get enough interest I'll be happy to do one!

Oh, and last but not least, here's a little sneak peek of the October KOTM that will leave you DANCING just like it left me!  LOVE these clouds...


Hugs xoxo
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Just LOUNGIN' around...

Haha I WISH!    But that's not the kind of LOUNGIN' I'm talking about today :)  

It's almost time...

....you've SEEN the previews.... you've heard the screaming....and now, here's just another little peek of what you can do with these ADORABLY CHIC and SASSY new "Miss Anyas" from The Greeting Farm:

Introducing: MISS ANYA LOUNGE 

I used this week's Mystery Monday challenge to CASE our wonderful October Guest Designer, Kim Yu's card.  That post can be seen HERE, introducing the NEW TEAM ANYA as well!   It's been a VERY exciting week at The Greeting Farm and Club Anya & Friends!

As for these sassy chicks, they'll be available at The Greeting Farm in JUST two days-October 1st, but there is ONE set hidden on a DT member's blog today!    So grab a cuppa somethin', sit back, relax and LOUNGE as you have a blast seeing the samples today! 

Tanya Tahir-TGF October Guest
Kim Yu-CA&F October Guest Designer!
Jessica Diedrich <--you're right HERE, thank you for visitng!

Have a BLAST "loungin' around with the Farm today!  Winner will be announced tomorrow on the TGF Blog :)



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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Hide and Sneak!...

's a HIDE and SNEAK PEEK with TGF and CLUB ANYA & FRIENDS!

Hey everyone!  FALL is HERE!  Can you smell the apple pies, crisp leaves, and spiced cider?  Well we thought we'd SPICE things up for you indeed with a CHANCE TO WIN at the end of our "HIDE and SNEAK PEEK" with The Greeting Farm and Club Anya & Friends today!

It all starts on the TGF Blog today and as you can see, Oliver and Amelia are REALLY having fun sneaking away from Marie and Jess and playing Hide and Seek!   Cute little buggers, we just couldn't seem to catch them for previews today.

However, we've heard through several sources that they've been spotted hanging out on the DT's blogs and well, we plan on catching them VERY soon!  As a matter of fact...here is Oliver...content to stop here on my blog for a minute and chow down on a chocolate chip cookie!  Isn't he adorable?

I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch challenge for this week's card and please check out the blogs of Mercy's Muses on my sidebar-Love these creative girls!

Your mission?   HOP THOSE BLOGS and check out the NEW OLIVER & AMELIA set "Just for You!"    Here's the order of the Hop:

Kim Yu-CA&F October Guest Designer!
Jessica Diedrich <--you are here!  :)

Oh-and here's the thing-because of the "DOUBLE TROUBLE" that these two have been causing, there will be TWO winners selected at random for participating in our "HIDE & SNEAK PEEK!"   BOTH will be announced tomorrow on the Club Anya & Friends Blog, so stay tuned and have a BLAST finding those two cuties...and seeing what the DT has put together today, JUST FOR YOU :)




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Monday, September 27, 2010

Goin' out with a Blog Hop BANG!...

Hey everyone!

Happy MONDAY!   I had the BEST weekend and although I'm not exactly 'refreshed' this morning, I'm chock-full of happy memories, yummy food, and enough pictures to have me uploading all night if I want to get them all added LOL...   But I'll share more about that later-right now, it's (sniff sniff) my last post as Guest Designer for EAD Designs and also our combined Blog Hop w/ TORENDI!

There is a TON of goodness going on at Torendi today, including a HUGE sale: 
50% off torendi rub-ons and $5.00 off orders over $30. coupon code: EADLOVE
Also, you can share that love at EAD where there is ALSO a sale:
EAD Special: 25% off coupon code: torendi

So, yeah, WOW-that's a TON of savings on a LOT of great product!

We are also using a sketch from 2Sketches4You today:


My oldest DD LOVES Pandas, so it was a no brainer which Rub-ON I was going to use for today's card.  I found the sketch to be a bit difficult, actually, but I know my 10 year old will love receiving this card for whatever reason-I'll prob just tuck it in her lunch tomorrow 'cuz I'm excited to give it to her :


If you're just starting out here, be sure to visit:



I want to thank EAD and Torendi for having me along this FABULOUS hop, and also, before I go, I have one last project to show from EAD.  I have been wanting one of these for a while, but as I said, I was TERRIFIED of rub ons, vinyl of any kind.  So WHY did you accept a Guest Spot from a VINYL company, silly girl?  Well, I have LOVED EAD's stickerz but just felt like I should take people's word from what I had been hearing about their superior quality..and they were RIGHT.   The rub ons come off SO easy.   Last but not least, the vinyl is something I've been wanting in my entry way for a long time.  I have a beautiful "niche" in my hallway where these flowers are, and this was the perfect touch:

Now, you may notice the h is a little crooked, well, that was from my DH with love-and although we will probably fix it, I wanted to show you how wonderful this looks even when human error is taken into account :)  I LOVE my family, and this just is one of those little 'homey touches" that I love coming home to!

Thanks for hangin' with me :)  xoxo


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Just got Back...

...from a weekend away and wasn't anticipating coming home at 1am-  SO....
I will be back with my last E.A.D. Guest Designer Post (wahhhh!), a special blog hop, and MORE...
but for now...

Go check out this VERY exciting announcement-I am SO EXCITED to welcome a NEW TEAM ANYA to Club Anya and Friends and TWO NEW CRITTER CREW members to TGF!  It's gonna be a FUN WEEK ON THE FARM!

Be back SHORTLY ;)

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Friday, September 24, 2010

Savoring the Moments over Coffee with The Greeting Farm...

Hello everyone!

We have a little treat for you today on the TGF Blog as we are previewing one sweet little dude-that's right-ANOTHER brand new IAN has come to the farm, he's cute, coy, and CAFFEINATED!

Introducing:  CAFE IAN!

This tall drink o' water (or should we say, tall cuppa joe?) will be available on OCTOBER 1st along with the rest of the TGF sneak peeks you'll be seeing beginning next week!

For now, the Farmers have a special treat for you today using this week's FFF challenge, a sketch by Mercy:  

And here's my card, complete w/ the cream and sugar:

We have a FUN announcement for you today here on the Farm-please welcome TANYA TAHIR as our October Guest Designer for TGF!  Tanya will be growing lots of fun , creative ideas with us over the next few weeks and we're happy to have her!  Be sure to head over to the Club Anya and Friend's blog today, too-there's a HUGE surprise waiting for you across our little Cafe that is sure to make you smile :)

I'll see you back on Tuesday with another TGF Preview, but be sure to stop by the TGF Blog tomorrow, too for some CRITTER CREW previews and another ANNOUNCEMENT!!...but for now:

Save the DATE!  
 On FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st, our RELEASE PARTY goes live at 7pm CST on our PCP Chat Page, 
and also on the TGF Blog beginning with our Farm Fresh Friday challenges in the morning!   Yep, that was challengeS!  We are having a FALL FESTIVAL of challenges that day for you!   There will be THREE different challenges-two for FFF and a speed challenge announced during the Release Day party that evening!  It all adds up to LOTS of chances to WIN!   Don't miss out!

I'll be back on MONDAY with another TGF preview but for now, just as I LOVE to savor my coffee, I am looking forward to savoring my weekend with family, friends, a wedding, dancing, clapping, and just to let loose and ENJOY THIS LIFE.

What will YOU do this weekend to SAVOR the moment?  ;)



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Thursday, September 23, 2010

FLIP FLOP to the HIP HOP!...

YEAH BABY!



SOOOO excited about today's version of HIP HOP with UNITY Stamp Co!   Because today, HIP HOP has become FLIP HOP!

HUH? you ask?  That means the UNITY chicks are playing with Ippity Stamps today, and the Ippity Chicks have UNITY to show you!   HOW FUN IS THAT?  If you're just hoppin' here, be sure to go back and start on the UNITY BLOG for some flip-hoppin' good times!

One of the best things about this Flip Hop for me is that I get to work with my FAVORITE Ippity set from the last release "Quotes A La Happy".   Can you SEE WHY I LOVE this set?

"LIFE is TOO SHORT to be anything but HAPPY..."

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!!!   Seriously, the ONLY way to live and that's one of the reasons I love Unity and Ippity so much-we are not afraid to express ourselves through these AWESOME sentiments :)

I was SO happy about Quotes a la Happy and "Flip Hop' that I made TWO cards for the occasion today :)  One is a very loose interpretation of this weeks Hip Hop SKETCH CHALLENGE and the other one is a more definite one :)   Here's the sketch:

You can find the sketch along with chit chat, prizes, and all kinds of Flip-Flopped FUN over on our SCS Forum beginning at 10am CST and on our FACEBOOK page as well!

Well, thanks for stopping by and hope you're just as excited about this little twist as I am!  Your next stop is my friend Jimmi-I really <3 this girl and am SO glad to call her my friend.  I can only imagine how awesome her project will be, so head over there and leave her some love!
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See you tomorrow, everyone!  FLIP FLOP!
Jess :)

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Recipe Restoration...

Hi there!

Did you guys all enjoy the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop yesterday?  I hope so!  I think there's still a wee bit of time to hop and enter to win a prize, so be sure to check out yesterday's post w/ all the links to the hoppers :)  I have to apologize for being MIA this week so far w/ commenting-I plan to catch up today-I miss visiting a LOT of you guys!  Things have just been crazy this week.

So, today I have a really fun project featuring the September KEY INGREDIENTS, available at Taylored Expressions:


These yellow canisters in my kitchen are one of the first purchases I made last year when we first moved here.   I found them at Home Goods (omg-LOVE that store) and they really set the tone for my kitchen.   I missed having a recipe box sitting out, but as you can see, my old one was a little too "cutesy" and ddin't really 'fit' with my theme:

As soon as I saw the GORGEOUS Crate Paper "Restoration" series paper in the KI kit, I knew that muted yellow/green adn splash of pinks, blues would be wonderful for covering/altering my recipe box.  I cut the paper according to the dimensions of the box and distressed them all with Antique Linen Distress Ink before adhering w/ Scor Tape.


After covering all of the sides of the box with paper, I added some fun decorative doilies, also included in the Sept KI kit!  I think these are so pretty and add SO much to the box :)


Here's a fun view from the side:

I left room for the hinges to still function perfectly in the back and here's another view of the pretty doilie and papers:

Last but not least, I added this rust-colored rick-rack which just so happens to match the tea pot on my counter :)  Picking up the yellows from the canisters and the rust from the teapot, I'd say this newly RESTORED box is a welcome addition to my countertop....what do you think?


Be sure to visit the BRAND NEW Key Ingredients BLOG to see more inspiring projects and find out ALL you need to know about this awesome (and TOTALLY affordable) subscription program from Taylored Expressions ;)

I really hope you enjoyed reading about this project today and I'll be using my newly restored Recipe Bo this week to look for some old recipes for "comfort food" from back when DH and I first got married :)

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Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Taylored Expressions BLAST from The PAST Blog Hop...

Hey everyone!

I'm so excited to be participating in another Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past BLOG HOP! {{{Please scroll down for my MTSC post, thank you!}}}

Today, a bunch of us are hopping along with creations made from Taylored Expressions stamps that were just kicking off in the past year or two!   I used one of my FAVE stamp sets to date "The Places You'll Go", based on all kinds of amazing Dr. Seuss-isms!  LOVE that!  This set is still available in the Taylored Expressions store, so head on over to check out all of the awesome sentiments in it!

I used some bright and FUN papers from Echo Park to create my card today, stamped the sentiment and then popped up the cute hot air balloon to appear as if it's flying up in the clouds :)   This is such a fun and whimsical set, it needed buttons-LOTS of buttons to finish off the card and Up, up and away we go!

Thank you SO, SO much for coming by today  and joining us in our Blast from the PAST blog hop!   I am so excited to see what everyone else came up with, and don't forget ONE lucky wins a stamp set from Taylored Expressions today!

Here's the rest of our stellar Blog Hoppers-thanks so much for stopping by here!  I've been really looking forward to this hop!!


I'll see you all very soon and will leave you with some really feel-good sentiments that really caught my eye:

"The best way of travel, however, if you aren't in any hurry at all, if you don't care where you are going, if you don't like to use your legs, if you don't want to be annoyed at all by any choice of directions, is in a balloon.   


In a balloon, you can decide only when to start, and usually when to stop. The rest is left entirely to nature."  ~William Pene DuBois  'The Twenty-One Balloons'


"My definition [of a philosopher] is of a man up in a balloon, with his family and friends holding the ropes which confine him to earth and trying to haul him down."  ~Louisa May Alcott


Thanks again for coming by-and REACH for the sky today, everyone!  Live your DREAMS!  You are the pilot of your own life...or at the very least, your little Hot Air Balloon in the sky :)
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MTSC92: Whimsical Fleur...

Hey everyone!

I have a very whimsical and fanciful FLEUR ANYA who wanted to come out and play today for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge!  Here's this week's sketch, MTSC92:

I had a BLAST coloring her up and using my MFT DieNamics Dies to play w/ felt :)  Felt is my new friend :)   The DP is DeLovely by Cosmo Cricket and Fleur is available at The Greeting Farm!

Be sure to check out my fellow Muses and their creations today:
...and our FABULOUS September Guest Muse, Lori Tecler!

See you next week for another FAB sketch-I swear Mercy makes the BEST sketches!   Much love xoxo,


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Monday, September 20, 2010

Blog Hoppin' with E.A.D...

Hey friends!

Did you all enjoy yesterday, being "National Talk Like a Pirate Day?"   LOL a few of my friends at Unity got a little carried away w/ the Pirate talk and it was pretty entertaining!  :)

Well, today is my day to be a GEEK  ( I know, right? Just ONE day you ask? :) with the E.A.D. Designs gals.   I am really enjoying my "Guest Geek" stint and we're back today for another fun BLOG HOP!  If you're just getting here, be sure to start at the beginning over on the EAD Design Blog :)

Today I used a really sweet STICKERZ set that I'm previewing (I don't see it released yet but looks very similar to the "Silly Owls " wall art and I just ADORE them!_   Aren't they a HOOT?

I used the branch and owl Stickerz and the "Hello" as the sentiment for this fun card.

Be sure to head over to Jenn's blog next to continue the hop!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you tomorrow with another exciting BLOG HOP with Taylored Expressions!

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

CHAPTER 31 of OH, ALICE meets Club Anya & Friends...

CHAPTER 31: Fighting for the CROWN



`Why the Lion and the Unicorn, of course,' said the King. 
`Fighting for the crown?'

`Yes, to be sure,' said the King: `and the best of the joke is, that it's my crown all the while! Let's run and see them.' And they trotted off, Alice repeating to herself, as she ran, the words of the old song: --

`The Lion and the Unicorn were fighting for the crown:
The Lion beat the Unicorn all round the town.
Some gave them white bread, some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum-cake and drummed them out of town.' 

Hey everyone!  We have a wonderful challenge today and a prize at stake from The Mad Hatter herself!    That's me!  Up for grabs this week?  A {Ippity} prize pack of stamps plus a nice array of 6x6 designer paper to ONE lucky winner this week who is "Crowned" by Random.org!

Speaking of crowns, THAT's this week's challenge, brought to you by our very own Twisted Sis Sammi:  Use CROWNS and/or MYTHICAL Creatures on your card or creation today!  

I used the ever-so-brat-astic "Creeper Tuesday" from The Greeting Farm along w/ the perfect sentiment from UNITY Stamps!   She's sassy, I'll give her that-the ruler of her 'crafty kingdom'...heehee...oh, wait-that's me!   

I used today's CLUB ANYA & Friends Sketch to create my card:

Be sure to check out the CA&F Blog to see who else played along this week and enter your creation to win a free digi!

As for our Oh, Alice blog, you'll want to check out the rest of the ROYAL work, there, too!  Be sure to upload your card or creation using InLinkz by Friday, September 24th to be eligible to WIN the {Ippity} prize pack!   Have a very regal day in WONDERLAND!

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Friday, September 17, 2010

Kickin' it OLD SKOOL style with TGF!...

That's right!  Have you heard?  TGF is goin' OLD SCHOOL!  In honor of Back to School time, we thought we'd do a traditional "Back to School" challenge until we decided, why not go OLD SKOOL?


So here's the deal.  Head on over to the TGF Blog for details, but we are kickin' it OLD SCHOOL!

In order to be considered truly OLD SCHOOL, it's easier to limit the stamps to what you cannot use vs. what you can:  You CANNOT use:

*Wild Sprouts
*Cheeky Cherry collection
*Oliver/Amelia Stamps
*Creepers or Creepy Cakes
*Any Anya AFTER the release of WILD WEST ANYA (Spring/Summer 09)
*Any Ian AFTER the releases of SKATER IAN (Spring 09)
*Miss Anyas/My Guy Ians
*Any Critter Crew images
*Grandparents/Darling Sisters

Just think OLD SCHOOL.  Older the better :)  Like this "Panda Friends" set for instance, that has since LONG retired.  I couldn't wait to bust this out and used this week's SCS Sketch to complete this fun card:


This contest will be opened for a few weeks.  The winner of this contest will be crowned OLD SCHOOL CHAMP and receive the ENTIRE October release along with an old, smelly pair of Converse All-Stars aka Chuck Taylors!! (ok, KIDDING on the latter prize!)

A runner up will ALSO win a 4x6 set of their choice!  This will be a random contest, but hey, why not a runner up too?  :)

The contest winner will be announced on Monday, September September 27th during a October Preview post.   That's a lot of time, so get busy and get OLD SCHOOL!   You have until Sunday, Sept 26th at 8pm CST to enter your card....and be sure to check out the TGF Blog for details!

Thanks and see you tomorrow!


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Thursday, September 16, 2010

A little glance into LIFE as you're HIP HOPPIN' through this day...

Greetings, friends :)

It's Thursday...one of my FAVORITE days...and I think by now, you all know why!  HIP HOP!  It's UNITY Thursday

I'm having such a great week, and as wonderful as that's been, I'm also gearing up for a few (ok, like 10) CRAZY busy days ahead before I'll be seeing friends and family for my cousin's wedding toward the end of the month.   Yesterday I spent the day shopping with my Mom for clothes for the kids and I even found a little something, too!   The best part about needed an outfit for a wedding is getting to coordinate the jewelry.  And even better?  Well, it was Mom's treat which was MUCH needed, appreciated and well...I just can't ever say enough wonderful things about my mother because there simply isn't enough time to gush :)   We had a great time and I cherish the memory of just being there in the moment-trying on outfits and laughing at how totally OPPOSITE we are when it comes to style, LOL!

Today my kids are off school for parent/ teacher conferences-seems impossible that it's that time of year already since most of you are just now getting back to school!   Basketball registration was last weekend, 1st communion class is tonight and every Thursday night until Easter...WHEW!  It is ONE. BUSY. LIFE.

But Hip Hop and hanging with Unity peeps only remind me of the important things in this life-FAMILY and FRIENDS.  Nothing is as important as the life I am SO BLESSED to have and the relationships that keep me smiling-RIGHT NOW.     Living in the here-the now-embracing who/what make life more UNcomplicated-the UNconditional love I have for my children...even the love of the UNknown-it all adds up to 100% Pure JOY.

JOY: A Very GLAD FEELING; extreme happiness.  pleasure.  delight.

As I take time this week to take my OWN advice that I just gave to a friend yesterday- I need to remember to embrace each day's JOY-each 'to do' box on the list, each project, even each load of laundry as an accomplishment, as a PART OF LIFE to be grateful for and let me tell ya its REALLY hard some weeks to embrace LAUNDRY.   But I have four, happy, healthy, and sometimes DIRTY kids,  LOL-and as the glass is seen half=full  (actually, WAY full ;), so are the laundry baskets...and THAT'S OK.  I LOVE this life and the AMAZING blessings I've been graced with.  I am so thankful!

Ok,- if you're still with me, onto today's challenge!   Today's HIP HOP SKETCH CHALLENGE just launched on SCS and you have ALL WEEK to play along! Here's the sketch:

And here's my card using the sketch and the set "25 Days".

I was feelin' the new Crate Paper "Snow Day" so I also made another card using 25 Days:

I'm not exactly sure what caused the sudden 'want' to make Christmas cards b/c I'm BARELY done enjoying summer let alone all the JOY of Fall, but I guess it was that cute Crate Paper!   Who can't use a head start, right?  :)

Be sure to stop by the Unity Blog today to begin our little Hip Hop today-and also, I'd love to chat with you on our SCS Forum!  I'll be in and out during the late a/m and would LOVE to catch UP!

For now, your next stop is my friend Jimmi, and I just know she's going to have something just as LOVELY as she is for you!
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Thanks for stopping by-I really love that you do :)   Have a WONDERFUL Thursday, friends!

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