Show me the Stars...

Hey everyone!

I'm back with another MTSC that of course, I adore.  I was just telling Mercy this weekend that her sketches really are some of my faves.  Lots of them, in fact!   What a fun team to be on, esp with friends who I adore and SO much talent!

Here is this week's MTSC:

I used one of my very most favorite {Ippity} sets, "Delightful Little Things" to create my card for today. I got this crocheted flower from a kit and it was SO bright I always wondered what I would do w it and well, today was the day!  I LOVE the DeLovely line from Cosmo Cricket and this really finished off my card, dont' you think?

What are you guys all up to this week?  We hope you'll play along with us!  Be sure to visit the other muses today, too:

• Cindy Haffner
• Crystal Birr
• Jackie Pedro
• Jessica Diedrich <--that's me :)
• Julie Lacey
• Pam Speidel
• Pam Varnell
• 
  

Last but not least, a sweet farewell to our AWESOME August Guest Muse, Angela Thomas!  Thanks for all of your beautiful samples this month, Angela!  Was so fun working with you!

Well, tomorrow is the 1st and I am SOOO excited about our Greeting Farm release and DT blog hop!  Be back for that first thing in the morning!

Hugs!

SWEET Monday Surprise...

Hey everyone!

I'm back with another preview from The Greeting Farm!  Did you all happen to check out the Club Anya & Friends blog over the weekend to see the ADORABLE new "Oh, Boy" Ian previewed with the Saturday Sketch Challenge?   He's so cute!   Well we've got a SUPER SWEET counterpart to show off to you today...

INTRODUCING...SWEET ANYA!

I had a blast trying out a new distressing technique to take a few scraps of paper and piece them onto a card.  Totally channeling my girl Mercy while her, Pam and I enjoyed our little getaway weekend...more on that tomorrow!!!!  The paper is Delovely by Cosmo Cricket and I'd say it's de-lovely indeed!  :)

As for the SWEET stamp-You may remember this little 'sweetie' from the Design-your-Anya contest a few months back!  Sweet Anya is the brainchild of Barbara Sproat, who just happens to be joining us today for today's preview!   Please check out her creation and leave her some love!  Without her, today wouldn't be as SWEET by any means :)

What's more?  Barbara is GIVING AWAY a SWEET ANYA to one lucky commenter on her blog today, so be sure to visit and tell her how SWEET her design is!

And while you're at it, hop on over to the other DT's blogs because there are TWO MORE Sweet Anyas hidden away somewhere and you JUST MIGHT WIN one!

TGF Blog

Barbara Sproat-our VERY special guest!

Kim Nath

• • Mary Giles
  • Melyssa Connolly
  • Mercy Kerin
  • Randi Wall
  • Amy Young
  • Alice Wertz-September Guest CA&F
  • Kelly Booth
  • Kim Costello
  • Pam Varnell
  • Traci Porter
  • Jessica Diedrich <--you are HERE!
  • Club Anya & Friends Blog

Well, I'll see you tomorrow for a MTSC you won't want to miss, and then I'll be back on Wednesday with our "SWEET SEPTEMBER" Blog Hop with The Greeting Farm!  Have a VERY sweet day, everyone!

Oh, Boy...another TGF Preview!

Hello all!

{{{THANK YOU so much for scrolling down to see my Kraftin' Kimmie CHALLENGE card today!  I have three posts for you today in total...I've been a busy girl!}}}

Can you believe those previews over on the TGF Blog yesterday?  That new "Sweet and Toxic" Creeper set is going to be AMAZING to play with!  We are really gearing up for a SWEET SEPTEMBER RELEASE and here at Club Anya and Friends, we have a VERY long-awaited addition to the TGF Family!

Before we introduce him (YES, I SAID HIM!!!) we have another introduction!  Please help us welcome ALICE WERTZ as our September Guest Designer for Club Anya & Friends!  Most of you are probably familiar with her work as she has submitted some seriously FABULOUS entries in CA&F Challenges!  We are thrilled to welcome Alice to the CA&F Family!

What's more?  Today is SKETCH SATURDAY so here's the sketch for you all to enjoy today:

And what are we all using for today's sketch?

FINALLY....after LONG LAST...a BRAND NEW IAN!!!

Introducing.... "OH, BOY!" Ian:

I used the VERY adorable new Ian with some awesomely boy-ish "Oliver" DP from Basic Grey!  Pam's sketch made it easy to really have fun w these papers and my Nesties Deckled Rectangles.  I just adore this little man-reminds me of BOTH my twinsies and how they dress for school in their jeans and polos :)  

This sweet and dapper little laddie will be available on Wednesday, September 1st along with rest of our "SWEET SEPTEMBER" Releases!  This all leads to our DT Blog Hop on the 1st where there are going to be some PRETTY amazing prizes given away....trust me!

For now, sit back, enjoy the eye candy, and we'll see you back here on MONDAY with another SUPER sweet preview!  

Pearly White Pirate...

Hey everyone!

{{{Thanks so much for scrolling down to view ONE more post-my OH, ALICE post!  We have a very PRETTIE sponsor this week that I wouldn't want you to miss!}}}

I am SOOO bummed that my month as Krafty Guest is already coming to a close!  Maybe it's me-with back to school, etc. August has really just FLOWN by-hard to believe!

Well, today's challenge at Kraftin' Kimmie is a "Pearly White" challenge:  Create a card using WHITE and pearls!   Now, I wasn't sure if I should go ALL white or not, but I kind of (almost) did :)   I have such a hard time creating white-on-white cards that I thought some good layering and texture would give it a boost!

I used "Cutthroat Lizzie", colored her using a softer palette and added Prima pearls.  The sentiment "You're a Treasure" is also Kraftin' Kimmie :)

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Krafty Gals-they are TRULY talented and it's been an HONOR to work along side them!

That's it for me for now!  Be sure to head over to the Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge blog and play along!

Oh, Alice gets PRETTIE...

CHAPTER 28: (taken from "Child of the Pure Unclouded Brow: preface to "Through the Looking Glass"

hild of the pure unclouded brow
And dreaming eyes of wonder!
Though time be fleet, and I and thou
Are half a life asunder,
Thy loving smile will surely hail
The love-gift of a fairy-tale.

I have not seen thy sunny face,
Nor heard thy silver laughter;
No thought of me shall find a place
In thy young life's hereafter -
Enough that now thou wilt not fail
To listen to my fairy-tale.

Hello everyone!  We are celebrating the wonder of childhood today here at Oh, Alice and are thrilled to announce this week's sponsor, Paper Pretties Stamps!  Are you all familiar with Paper Pretties?   If you're new to them, check out their darling images!  If it's been a while, Paper Pretties is PROUD to announce that they're under NEW ownership and is pleased to offer you faster, cheaper shipping, reliable service, and lots of new items in the store.  We are thrilled to congratulate Heather Lee-Reppen on her new endeavor and are honored to have her sponsorship this week!

Paper Pretties is offering a Prize package of rubber stamps this week to ONE lucky winner!   This week's theme is simply to make a card with a LITTLE GIRL theme:)  Alice is such a whimsical free spirit and we LOVE that about her!  Channel your inner girlie this week with this great (and free-to-be-you!) challenge! 

I used this adorable "Swing on By' stamp to create my card for today :)

Thanks again to Paper Pretties for this great prize and for letting the DT play, too!   You have until FRIDAY, September 3rd at 8pm CST to play along this week for the prize!  Winner will be announced next week here on the blog!

Last but not least, a note of thanks as we say goodbye to two of our members of the Twisted 13, Kim and Kristy, and also to our August Guest, Stephanie!  You ladies have been wonderful to work with and we will miss all three of you!  On that note though, we'll be back with exciting news next week!

Enjoy being young at heart and we'll see you soon back in WONDERLAND!

A Sweet and Toxic Farm Fresh Friday Surprise!...

Hey everyone!  

SWEET SEPTEMBER is ALMOST here!  You know what that means?

It's time for another Farm Fresh Friday challenge but we have a SPECIAL treat for you today...and it's just as SWEET as it is TOXIC???  Yep, you guessed it...we are previewing a BRAND NEW set "Sweet and Toxic" set to release this coming Wednesday, September 1st at The Greeting Farm!

EXCITED?  Well, perhaps you'll be even MORE excited to know that our new CREEPER CREW sets are going to be released as 4x6 stamp sets WITH sentiments! How SWEET is that?   You're probably noticing that all of this is just a LITTLE more sweet than toxic, huh?

Well let's show off these sassy new additions with some cards from the Farmers using Mercy's sketch as your challenge this week on the TGF Blog: 

And here's my card, using the new SWEET and TOXIC stamp set (um, LOVE IT!)

Be sure to stop by the TGF Blog today to see all of the creations the FARMERS have for you and be sure to stop by the CA&F Blog tomorrow for MORE previews and an announcement!

One more announcement here on the TGF Farmer Front...today we sadly say a (bitter)SWEET goodbye to two of our dear, dear Farmers, Kadie and Cindy :(  It's hard to believe these two beautiful souls have been Farmer's for a year already, isn't it?  Parting is SWEET sorrow, indeed, and I'm not just saying that :(  On behalf of Marie, Jess, and ALL of TGF, we say a SUPER DUPER Thank you to these two wonderful ladies and just KNOW that you'll never be FAR from the Farm!  Best of luck and THANK YOU.  for. EVERYTHING.

As for our little challenge today? Play along in this week's FFF and this week's winner will WIN the new "Sweet and Toxic" set!   I'll see you back here tomorrow with a Club Anya & Friends Challenge and another on MONDAY with another SWEET preview, and this all leads up to our RELEASE DAY DT blog hop in which there will be prizes....LOTS of prizes :)  Our "SWEET SEPTEMBER" DT Blog Hop will include the Farmers, Team Anya, and our Critter Crew!  We can't wait to hop into another fun filled month at TGF with you!

Our Critter Crew has some new digi previews for you today, too, so be sure to check out the Farmers AND our Crew!  They are:

• Kim Nath
• Mary Giles
• Melyssa Connolly
• Mercy Kerin
• Randi Wall
• Tammy Maxvill
• Amber Hight

• Jacqueline Nordaune
• Jen Shults
• Jennifer Royal
• Kristine Reynolds
• Linda Muhr
• Shaela Odd
• Tangii Crain
• 
  

See you tomorrow, and in the mean time...hope your day is a little less toxic, and a LOT more Sweet!

WINNER WINNER Chicken Dinner!...

Hey everyone-

Thank you SO much for all your heartfelt comments on the projects I shared w/ you yesterday during Hip HoP!  Congrats to NORA ANNE!  You are the winner of the Eco Chic set!  Just email Jimmi or visit the Hip Hop prize claim thread to have it sent out to you!

Thanks again, everyone!

A HIP HOPPIN' SURPRISE!...and a GIVEAWAY!

HELLO PEEPS!

Are you soooooo excited to be coming to me from Lesley's blog?  WHAT?  You haven't heard the news?? Well the head on OVER to the UNITY BLOG b/c Ang has a HUGE announcement!  We have added not one, not two, but THREE new talented ladies to be part of our SCRAPBOOKING DT!   They are:

Lesley Langdon
Shemaine Smith and
Pamela Young!!!

HOW EXCITING is that?!  I'm gonna cut right to the chase cuz I'm SOOO excited and I have A TON to show you- but before I do, in case you didn't see, the winner of the SPRING UNITY set from last week's post is KRISTEN!  Congrats and don't forget to email Jimmi to claim your prize!

This week, I have MORE to give away, but first a few things to show ya...

DID YOU KNOW that UNITY is now sponsoring a WEEKLY challenge on the SCS Forum with a WEEKLY prize at stake?  Our customers adopted the "Unity Addicts" challenge a while ago and it has now become the OFFICIAL Unity CHALLENGE!  EVERY WEDNESDAY!

I played this week.  Only I goofed and did LAST week's challenge...but, it actually COUNTED for this week.  Whew-ok-so-Funny story- Last week's challenge was to STAMP on ANYTHING BUT paper.  I was STUMPED, I tell ya!  Well, I got a set of these beautiful mugs from my sister in law a few years ago and decided that this sentiment from the Life Becoming set NEEDED To be on the mug!   Whatcha think?

I entered my mug for the challenge and then much to my dismay, I realized.  OOPS.  Wrong week, silly girl!  This week's challenge is to use black, white and a splash of color.  OMGOSH was I lucky or what?  This mug just happens to be well, black and white w/ a splash of pink!   Can you say LUCKY GIRL??  Sheesh.  Well, do as I say, not as I do, in this case!  LOL!  Just be sure to read the instructions HERE-I'm sure you will-I was such a scatterbrain last week, haha :)

I do have a chance to redeem myself though-with this weeks Hip Hop sketch:

Here's my card using the sketch:

Last but not least,  I leave you with the final pages of my BRAVE GIRL album.  I'm sad it's coming to a close, especially after your sweet comments week after week.  I saved the best for last, though. My FOUR beautiful ones grace the last few pages of my book.  You may remember THIS video that I posted a while ago-it is my most favorite tribute of words to my children and I printed out part of the verse to include on my book:

I really can't thank you guys enough for letting me BE BRAVE and opening up the pages w/ me over the last few weeks!  The best part for me, though, has been hearing from some of you that you've been inspired to create something similar for yourself.  Please email me if and when you do-I would LOVE to see what you BRAVE GIRLS come up with!

I ended the book with one of my very favorite stamps EVER from the new MELODY ROSS scrapbooking Kit-"One Precious Life":

DECIDE to make EVERY SINGLE DAY the very BEST day of your ONE. PRECIOUS. LIFE.

Last but not least, I am giving away an ECO CHIC to one lucky commenter today!  You have until 11:59pm CST tonight to WIN and I will definitely post the winner tomorrow cuz I have like a crazy amount of posts Saturday, LOL!

Thanks everyone!  Time to HIP HOP!  Meetcha there!  Time to head over to my girl Jimmi's blog next!  I just adore her AND her talent and know she's got something great!

Have a BLAST today-that's why we HIP HOP!!!

Cuppie takes on the MTSC...

Hey everyone!

Happy Tuesday!  Well, I ended up getting the 'ickies' here...I am officially germ infested thanks to our back to school illness marathon, LOL!   I had all three of the older kids home at some point last week.  Yikes!   Well, here's to building up our immune system at the beginning of the year, right?  :)

I am so excited about today's sketch for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge- LOVE this one:

I am even MORE excited to have been able to use one of my favorite sets, "Sweet Indulgence" from Taylored Expressions!  I love this little Cuppie Set and it's been ages since I've gotten to use it!  I colored the image with my Copics and used some new DP from Cosmo Cricket that I absolutely ADORE!  The cardstock is Prism and I love how well it matches this cute paper!

Don't do it often, but I even decorate the inside of the card-LOVE this sentiment, hee hee. So cute:

We hope you'll be able to play along with this week's sketch and that you'll stop by the other Muses:

• 
  
• Cindy Haffner
• Crystal Birr
• Jackie Pedro
• Julie Lacey
• Mercy Kerin
• Pam Speidel
• Pam Varnell
• Shannan Teubner
• 
  

And a HUGE note of thanks to our August Guest Muse, Angela Thomas! Wasn't she wonderful?  We will miss you, girl!

Thanks for stopping by today and I'll be back really soon-you guys brighten my days so much!  Thanks for your constant support and friendship!

Ippity Skippity...HOP!

Hey all!

It's been a while since I posted for {Ippity} Mondays and I had a card I couldn't wait to show you so I figured I'd hop along!

I have been so swamped w/ work that I haven't yet been able to order the NEW Ippity but if you can be patient with me, I should have some in later this week!  I plan to dedicate a little more of my time to this AMAZING business now that the kiddos are in school and because my passion in life has truly become the inspiration that I can GIVE AND GAIN by sharing Ippity and Unity with all of YOU!

Here's my card today, using "Delightful Little Things", which is definitely one of my favorites:

Last but not least, I want to turn your attention not JUST to the fantastic list of hoppers, but to one Ippity gal in particular-my friend Eryn Hagen.  Eryn not only works her butt off for the Unity Stamp Co. and us DT girls, but is also UBER talented and she has recently opened up her own business selling handmade jewelry and I am a HUGE fan!  Be sure to check out her Sale Blog and you'll be seeing some of her new designs show up on pictures of me very soon-as soon as they show up at my DOOR!  Hooray for sparkly things, butterflies, and crafty friends!  Seriously, stop by-she has some beautiful things and AWESOME pricing!

Be sure to start out at the Ippity Blog for the complete list of Hoppers today!  Thanks for stopping by-you have ALL definitely become NECESSARY. TO. My. DELIGHT.  :)

SFYTT, Club Anya, and Oh, Alice...SAY WHAT?

Hey everyone!

{{{PLEASE scroll down for my Kraftin' Kimmie challenge post that just might have you SEEING STARS...thanks!}}}

Today I'm excited to share something I don't do very often...which is combine challenges!  I either forget, or it's not allowed, most of the time :)  Well, today, I have a card for you using a gorgeous inspiration piece at Oh, Alice and also a very exciting Club Anya and Friends post!   CA&F is proud to sponsor Jen Del Muro's Sketch for you to try this week and we couldn't WAIT to try it!

Here is Jen's fabulous sketch:

Be sure to check out Jen's Blog and her own DT, and also my teammates at Club Anya and Friends:

• Kristy Young-August Guest
• Amy Young
• Jessica Diedrich
• Kelly Booth
• Kim Costello
• Pam Varnell
• Traci Porter
• 
  

My card today uses the very sassy "Creeper Friday" and follows a flipped sketch, and also the inspiration challenge for Oh, Alice:

CHAPTER 27: Prizes for Dodo...

"This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon its forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, in the pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence. At last the Dodo said, `EVERYBODY has won, and all must have prizes.'

`But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices asked.

`Why, SHE, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, calling out in a confused way, `Prizes! Prizes!'

Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand in her pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt water had not got into it), and handed them round as prizes. There was exactly one a-piece all round. `But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the Mouse.

`Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. `What else have you got in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice..."

The Mad Hatter herself is VERY fond of Tarina Tarantino jewelry and is lucky enough to own a VERY fun ring that she scored while in Disneyworld last time. Check out the fabulous Queen Alice ring HERE.

For today's challenge, we are all gaga over this beautiful piece:

Your mission today is to create SPARKLY FABULOUSNESS (yes, include some BLING, please!) as inspired by the above photo.

Be sure to check out the blogs of my Oh, Alice teammates today, too!  Thanks so much:

• 
  
• Emma Eads-July Guest
• Erin Leveille
• Jen Shults
• Kim Howard
• Kristy Young
• Kyra Sanders
• Lynne Phelps
• Margie Cortina
• Peggy McCurry
• Randi Wall
• Sammi Betbeder
• Sara Henton
• Tasha Beasley

Thanks again for playing along this week-you can find out the rest of the info HERE  :)

Let your Light Shine...or GLOW?...

I definitely think that Mr. Horace here has a GLOW to him, don't you?  Even coming out of the dark, distressed (and a bit disasterous looking on my card, I fear :( lol) night he glows a soft, eerie green by candlelight...

Ready for another SPOOKTACULAR challenge with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps?  The girls are seeing stars this week...literally!   Yep, the challenge is to use STARS on your card or project.  I got lucky this week as I busted open the new Matilda paper pack from Cosmo Cricket...the stars are all over the DP!  Plus I used my favorite star stamp from Verve and the sentiment is from the "Your a star" stamp set.

I hope you guys will play along with the Kraftin' Kimmie girls on the Challenge Blog this weekend!  They are:

• Krista Van Tol 
• Andrea Murdock
• Diana Pickering
• Donna Wardle
• Elaine Hughes
• Jeanne Streiff
• Kraftin' Kimmie
• Melanie Holtz
• Michele Boyer
• Tara Godfrey
• Vicki Garrett
• and the Krafty August Guests along w/ me:
• Kerry Johnson

Colleen Schaan

Paula Williamson

Thanks for stopping by and have a STAR studded weekend, everyone!

Love Farm Fresh Friday's of Summer...

Hey everybody!

How are you all on this fine Farm Fresh Friday?   It's time to get colorful on the Farm with a fun and SUMMERY color challenge:

Like it?  Good!  We are challenging you to use Kiwi Kiss(SU), Hawaiian Shores (PTI) and Tangerine Tango(SU)or something similar-doesnt' have to be exact!  In fact, just follow the above swatch to the best of  your ability and HAVE FUN!

Are you all enjoying what's left of our precious SUMMER?   I used SUMMER Sprout today to commemorate that-I just LOVE her giggly expression!  I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch for my card today:

The Farmers and Critter Crew are getting colorful with you on the TGF Blog  so be sure to head over there now, and visit the blogs of my awesome teammates:

• Cindy Haffner
• Jessica Diedrich
• Kadie Ensley
• Kim Nath
• Mary Giles
• Melyssa Connolly
• Mercy Kerin
• Randi Wall
• Tammy Maxvill

• Amber Hight
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacqueline Nordaune
• Jen Shults
• Jennifer Royal
• Kristine Reynolds
• Linda Muhr
• Shaela Odd
• Tangii Crain

See you soon!  HUGS, smiles and I came across this quote today that I just HAD to share.  SO. TOTALLY. PROFOUND.  Has nothing to do w/ my card but I believe this from the core of my soul and just had to share:

The best thing you could do for anyone that you love is be HAPPY! ...and the very worst thing that you could do for anyone that you love, is be unhappy - and then ask them to to try to CHANGE it. there is NOTHING that ANYBODY ELSE can do that will MAKE YOU happy. it is ALL up to YOU - ♥   LOVE THIS.  SO, SO very true...words to live by :)

All You Need...

...is HIP HOP!   with UNITY!  AND, a giveaway...but we'll get to that in a sec :)

It's Thursday and time for another FUN filled day of hip hopping with UNITY!   I have LOTS of fun stuff to share...but first thing's first, congrats to SHERI aka Papercrafty!  YOU win the Crazy for Daisies set from my blog giveway LAST week for Hip Hop!  Again, I'm so sorry about the delay!

I have ANOTHER blog candy/giveaway today-can I get a louder HIP HOP???   ONE lucky commenter today will WIN the adorable SPRING UNITY set!  You have until 11:59pm CST tonight to comment and I pretty please promise I will post the winner tomorrow w/ my Farm Fresh Friday post!

Today I have a card for you using the DARLING Kit of the Month for August-"ALL YOU NEED":

The "Love" sentiment and the add-ons really made me smile and I just couldn't wait to put something together with the "LOVE THIS LIFE" sentiment....because well, yanno...I really DO.

I used that big yummy Prima and some October Afternoon DP to finish off this fun card-not my 'normal' style (whatever that may be, lol) but I think I LOVE it, speaking of LOVE :)

Oh, and today's Hip Hop Sketch Challenge as my inspiration:

Did you guys know that in addition to the weekly "Unity Addicts" challenges on Wednesdays that there is a HIP HOP sketch challenge on Thursdays?  You can enter to win prizes for BOTH these challenges weekly by submitting your cards!

Be sure to stop by the UNITY BLOG first for a WONDERFUL tutorial and to read Ang's awesome post, and then it's time to HOP!  It all takes place on our SCS Forum, just like our HIP HOP chat today beginning at 10am!  I've got a sicky home today, so I'll be popping in and out to chat w/ some of my favorite peeps!  Speaking of which, be sure to stop by the beautiful and talented JIMMI next!

Have a WONDERFUL day, all...LOVE this LIFE...and LOVE some of these words of wisdom I stumbled upon recently...and fell in LOVE with:

"The best day of your LIFE is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins..."  ~Bob Moawad


"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of.  You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life..." ~Albert Camus

..and about LOVING LIFE...this really struck me....love this one:  "I say to my child, I will explain to you as much of life as I can, but you must remember that there is a part of life for which YOU are the explanation.  ~Robert Brault