HOPPIN' into the HOLIDAYS with TGF...

Hello EVERYONE!

There is excitement in the chilly air tonight as the TIME. HAS. COME...to HOP into the HOLIDAYS with The Greeting Farm!  Hooray!  We have been looking forward to doing an all-customer invited Blog Hop for QUITE some time now and are thrilled that tonight's the night.

If you are just getting here, be sure to start on the TGF Blog where there will be ONE official list of hoppers due to the volume of tonight's hop.   Be sure to pop in between 7 and 8 pm CST on our PCP page to chat w/ the DT, drink virtual egg-nog and be MERRY with TGF!

Well, as you can see, we have QUITE a surprise for you this evening.  You thought previews were OVER, didn't you?  Nope!  We are ringing in tonight's holiday hop and DECEMBER release with one more VERY cheeky character...INTRODUCING:

CHEEKY CHERRY PIE!!!

Isn't she DREAMY?  That's right-in case you were wondering why we were STARTING with the DT tonight when most hops have ended with us, THIS is why!   You won't want to miss her as we KNOW she's gonna go FAST-so be sure to grab her any time after MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, CST, when ALL the December TGF releases go live and for sale!

I used this week's MERCY's Tuesday Sketch Challenge and the NOVEMBER KEY INGREDIENTS kit from Taylored Expressions to create my card.  Here's the sketch:

If you are participating in one of our contests tonight (see THIS post for categories), the THREE categories will be live and posted in the TGF Galleria at 7pm CST tonight.  Please place your card in the appropriate category in the galleria NO LATER than 11:00am tomorrow, CST, DECEMBER 1st.   Winners will be drawn tomorrow around NOON CST and posted on the TGF Blog.  

In addition, the TWO lucky Blog Hop winners (must have left comments and completed blog hop by NOON CST (This gives our overseas friends as well as here in the states plenty of time to see the projects and comment :) will be announced at NOON CST as well on the TGF Blog.  GOOD LUCK to everyone and GET HOPPIN'!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for HOPPIN' into the HOLIDAYS with The Greeting Farm!

-- 

NEW IPPITY in da house...

Click HERE to see what's new :)

A Sweetly Sentimental Preview...

Hey Farm Friends!

As you can tell by now, there are some SUPER exciting happenings on the Farm this week!  First of all, as you may have seen on Friday, we are thrilled to welcome NAOUAL du MORTIER as our December Guest for The Greeting Farm, and are also giddy with excitement to welcome SHERI GILSON to Team Anya as our Guest for the Month of December!  These lovely ladies have jumped right into previews and we're thrilled to have them along for the ride!

It's been a while since we've had a sentiment-only set here on the Farm, and after MANY requests by all of you out there in blog-land, we are previewing a BRAND NEW SENTIMENT set today, "Because of You".   This whimsical and fun-fonted set comes complete with that feeling of warm-fuzzies, complete with a "famous" quote from two of my kiddos, Ava and Jack's "I love you more than Puppies".  SO cute ;)

To show you just how adorable these new sentiments are, we've decided to show you some preview projects today using ONLY a sentiment as the focal point.  Be sure to check out the TGF Blog AND the Club Anya & Friends blog as well for some GREAT ideas and heartfelt hugs :) 

I really love the new My Mind's Eye Fine and Dandy collection and the little chipboard accents that go with this colllection!  You will LOVE this cute and playful new samp set :)   

Thanks for stopping by today, and oh...there's ONE more little thing.  ONE of the DT members (is it a Farmer?  Guest Designer?  Team Anya member? hmmmm....) has a "Because of You" set hidden on their blog today!   Be sure to stop by and see their beautiful projects and ONE lucky winner will be announced tomorrow during our "HOPPIN' into the HOLIDAYS" Blog Hop, beginning at 7pm CST on the TGF Blog!

"Sentimentally" yours,

Cozy Warm & Fuzzy Wuzzy...

Hey all!

I am SO excited about our preview day for Club Anya & Friends!  Just as the temp begins to drop here a bit, it's time to introduce a brand new Oliver & Amelia set that will be released on Wednesday, December 1st at The Greeting Farm....

We bring you "FUZZY WUZZY"

Isn't little Amelia adorable?  I loved coloring her and used Copics to match the Echo Park DP "Everyone Loves Christmas".  The layout is this week's Saturday Sketch by Jen:

Well, we do have a "FUZZY WUZZY" up for grabs today!  Just head on over to the CLUB ANYA & FRIENDS Blog where Farmers AND Team Anya alike are participating in this week's Saturday Sketch!

One lucky commenter will WIN the new "Fuzzy Wuzzy" set-good luck to all who enter!

Have a warm,fuzzy weekend, peeps!

xoxo~

Funky Farm Fresh (Black) Friday!...

Hey everyone!

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!  I had such a WONDERFUL day and am still editing lots and lots of pics...but the highlight was definitely the fact that for the first time since we moved to TN, my parents had all FOUR of their kids in for the holiday at the same time.   It was pretty awesome :)  Here I am with my sister and two brothers:

Today is not only Farm Fresh Friday but it also happens to be our FIRST preview of the DECEMBER stamps from The Greeting Farm...hooray!   While you're still waking up from that Turkey coma, this Punk of a Preview might be just the jolt you need to get your groove on for the rest of the weekend!

Introducing...TANK!

Tank is the first WILD SPROUT we've had to introduce to you in a while, so we're extra excited about his rockin' appearance onto the TGF Scene.

Today we all used an awesome sketch by Mercy for our previews, and it's also this week's FFF Challenge:

We also have some SUPER fun Guest Designer news to reveal at the Farm today!  Congrats and welcome to NAOUAL du Mortier, our December Guest Farmer, and also to SHERI Gilson, our Team Anya December Guest!  We are thrilled to annnounce them both today and welcome them :)  Be sure to stop by and leave them some love!

In addition to Mr. Tank here, there are also FOUR NEW CRITTERS being previewed today on the TGF Blog so be sure to check them out!   Team Anya also joins us for this exciting preview day!   Enjoy and I'll see you tomorrow-I'm off to scurry over to Mom and Dad's for some leftovers...mmmmm ;)

xoxo~

Baggin' it and Taggin' it on "BLACK WEDNESDAY" with HUGE news...

INHALE.

{exhale.}

REPEAT.

ARE.

u.

READY????

We are "Hip Hoppin'" into Thanksgiving here at UNITY with a SPECIAL WEDNESDAY POST,

HUGE "BLACK WEDNESDAY SALE", and the release 

of SIX NEW STAMP SETS in a new CO-BRANDED LINE by

BELLA BOULEVARD!!!

Bella Blvd. just so happens to be one of my favorite paper co's in the universe and is now working w/ Unity to bring you SIX NEW SETS.

TODAY!!!!

Here's the one I used:

For this week's Hip Hop theme we are "BAGGIN' it and TAGGIN' it" which is a GREAT theme to show you how to throw together simple hostess and/or holiday gifts at the last minute!   Here is my project using the new Bella Fiori set:

I decorated a cute Bakery Bag from Taylored Expressions with some BELLA BLVD DP and stamped the big flower from this set all over the bag.  I filled it up w/ some cute gumballs and added a SUPER simple tag using the Bella Fiori set as well :)  Such a quick and cute gift for anyone-and really any time of year.

I didn't want to stop there so I made a quick card to go with:

Be sure to stop over at the UNITY BLOG to get the latest lowdown on ALL the sales and happenings today, and when I tell you "all", I am NOT. KIDDING.

TONS and TONS of good stuff going on today!

For now, head over to my sweet friend JIMMI's blog to see what she's baggin' and taggin'...and check out the AMAZING sale Unity is having...RIGHT NOW...and this is JUST the beginnings of it!

One more thing I want to mention, because I think it's important.  TO BE GRATEFUL.  And because I am SO. So. Grateful to be a part of UNITY:

For every sale from this HUGE event, 50 cents will be donated to the local FOODSHELF program.  Did you know that $1 donation will buy up to NINE dollars of groceries for families in need this holiday season?  Yep, 50 cents for EVERY. SALE.

Now THAT is something I am grateful for.  I was writing Angela tonight telling her that for all the holiday spirit that I love, there is always a little part of me this time of year that is unspeakably sad for the people who aren't as fortunate as we are, so I love this.  Does my heart SO much good <3

Well, this was a LOOONG post so if you are still with me, THANK YOU.  I am VERY, VERY grateful for all of you and your support, too :)

Have a WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING, everyone!
xoxo

A little bit about MTSC's and Mojo...and a fun announcement!...

Hey, guys!

I'm back with today's post for Mercy's Tuesday sketch challenge...and a little announcement about my "Mojo".  What is this silly word?  Well, we all know it pertains, in the stamping world at least, to our creative juices flowing and well, ok here we go:  MOJO.

mo·jo (mōˈjōˌ)

noun pl. mo·jos or mo·joes

1. A magic charm or spell.
2. An amulet, often a small flannel bag containing one or more magic items, worn by adherents of hoodoo or voodoo.
3. Personal magnetism; charm.

Hmmm, well, alright.  There is DEFINITELY no voodoo or amulet here...in fact, up until this afternoon, there was NO MOJO. ZERO. zilch.

This is the FIRST time this has ever happened to me and I seriously threw myself for a loop. Now, please, don't get me wrong, I do NOT think everything I do is amazing and of course there are times when I like my work better than others.  BUT-this was the FIRST time...that there was just NOTHING when I sat down.  Holy crap!  I seriously sat there for an HOUR-maybe more-until I packed up my desk and went upstairs to bed.

Mind you-my sweet little one was up wheezing the night before last and I literally caught a few winks, that is is.  I've been sick and wheezy myself.  I have family coming in, am worried about a friend that I love so very much and feel bad that I can't help him through more of what he's going through, and of course have all the other 'mommy' duties in full steam right now...so I am not going to beat myself up about having one bad night and DEFINITELY am not looking for any sympathy from the peanut gallery, LOL ;)   

I just had to mention it because WOW-it stinks!  When I hear people talk about it, I always feel bad and think to myself, "oh, I hate when that happens"...but the truth is, I really didn't KNOW about how that felt until last night and YIKES-let's hope that's the last of it for a while, haha.  

Well, today I have a card using all items (except for the white brads) from the NOVEMBER Key Ingredients kit from Taylored Expressions.  I really {heart} this DP from October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker line and used her CUTE new "What's COOKIN'" stamp set for this card.

I actually made this card coming out of my mini-funk and I am not sure that I like it :(   I feel like it needs something different but here's this week's MTSC sketch:

Well, I got to create some more today and hopefully my "mojo" will be in full-force just in time for a HUGE Unity announcement tomorrow! HUUUUUGE!  Thanks for listening to me RAMBLE...and RAMBLE I have!  Time to check out the rest of the Muses, enough about me, LOL!:

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

and our wonderful GUEST MUSE, Jodi :)

Big hugs to all my stamping peeps and for the support we all are to each other!


Speaking of which-last but not least, my sweet stamping friend and Twitter-deemed "Twitter BFF" Tiffany Johnson (you might know her as TiffGuam) is making a cross- country move this week and I'm honored to be guest-blogging today on her blog!  

Thanks again, everyone!

xoxo

Jess :)

HUGE. UNITY. NEWS...and a walk down Co-Branding Lane... LOVE THIS POST!...

What?!
A Saturday post again?! 

That's right...we have some GREAT stuff to share with you today!

{{{PLEASE BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MY Oh, ALICE POST today, too-if you don't mind?  THANK YOU!!!!}}}

We have ALL the co-branded stamps AVAILABLE on the Unity Website....you asked....we did it.it was necessary. 
That's what I LOVE about UNITY.UNITY LISTENS.TO US-their DT. most importantly...to YOU!
Exclusive Co-Branded Stamps from some of the BEST in the industry.Check them out!!!! *AND*
FREE SHIPPING all week long!
FREE ITTY BITTY

...and even MORE!

every. single. order. placed - gets their name in a jar and qualifies for a PRIZE PACKGE including a BIND IT ALL and accessories.

  If you are a KIT OF THE MONTH member you get an EXTRA 25% off these sale prices!!!  (dont' forget to use that code!!!)  And DON'T FORGET about our OUR NEWEST Co-BRANDED LINES!!!!
And here are some projects I've done w/ some of our FABULOUS Co-BRANDED lines that again-you can get STRAIGHT FROM UNITY-STARTING TODAY!!!  WOO HOO!!!!!
DONNA DOWNEY

COSMO CRICKET-MATERIAL GIRL line

COSMO CRICKET-Garden Variety

COSMO CRICKET-DeLOVELY Vintage line w/ my beautiful baby girl who turned FIVE YESTERDAY!!!

SAMANTHA WALKER

ECHO PARK

SUZI BLU

JILLIBEAN SOUP

MELODY ROSS-one of my ALL-TIME FAVES...

YES.  DO IT.

DECIDE TO MAKE EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. 

the VERY BEST DAY of your 

ONE.

PRECIOUS.

LIFE.  <3

and SOON...you will be seeing a LOT. OF. WEBSTER'S. PAGES. BABY!

Available NOW on the UNITY WEBSITE!

<

CHAPTER 40: Hoo-ka Are You?

CHAPTER 40: Hooka Are You?

"Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar.
This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, "I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then."
~Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,Chapter 5

Hi everyone!  THANK YOU for all the well wishes for Ava's bday yesterday!  She had a GREAT DAY-and LOVED reading your comments.  All in all it was a fantastic day and our little "Caterpillar" had a WONDERFUL day!  Thanks again!

So, welcome to the mad world of Wonderland! Once again we are here to inspire you to create great things! The Caterpillar (Absalom) was the wisest creature in Wonderland. At least he thought so, and so did most of the others. 

He is a fascinating character because of his wisdom, and his lack of understanding metamorphosis. Kind of a weird oxymoron, don't you think? Our challenge this week is to use either a caterpillar or a butterfly in your project. If you'd like to go one step farther, use a definition or dictionary paper in your design (any subject is fine).

If you are fortunate, you may find yourself wisely winning your choice of three 4x6 reprints from our sponsor, Maigan Lynn Beaudoin Shaw. FanTASTic!! Maigan is such a delightful artist, and the team appreciates the chance to work with one of her images!   Heres what I came up with using this week's Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge:

Remember, you have all week to play this challenge! Link your project to the Oh Alice! Challenge blog and HAVE FUN!  You have until Friday Nov. 26th at 11:59 CST to get inky and enter to win! Happy creating and thanks for visiting!  I'lll be back around 10am with a UNITY post that you won't. want. to miss.  :)

A Sparkly and Festive FFF...

Hello friends :)

I can't believe how fast this week has gone and that it's already FRIDAY!!!

Today at The Greeting Farm we have a fun Farm Fresh Friday challenge to add some SPARKLE to a fun birthday-themed card.

I have a REALLY fun new "thing" that I found to add some sparkle and shine to just about any project-but I'll get to that in a second-here's my card using Cuddle Anya :)  This card is for a VERY special darling who has a b-day to celebrate...TODAY!   A very happy birthday to my sweet Ava baby...I guess I can't call her a baby since she is FIVE years old today :(  Wahhhhhh where does the time go???  Well, she's the baby of the family so she's always gonna be my baby, right?  Sigh...love my babies so, so much and time just keeps on a-flyin'... Sheesh!

While Marie and I had about ten seconds to wander around CHA last winter, we stumbled upon the Tsukineko booth and I fell instantly in love with a new product they were demo-ing.  Most of you know, Tsukineko makes a large variety of products, many of which you probably use, and most notable, the Memento Inks we all know and love as well as StazOn, Versamagic, Versamark, etc.  Anyway, we came across their SHIMMER SPRITZ  (scroll down 1/2 the page) while at CHA and I just had to give it a try.

I gotta tell ya, as much as I WANT to love 'other' companies' shimmery spritzy stuff, I just CANNOT get it to look right, let alone photograph.  I dont really mind that it doesn't always show up on my photo although for a challenge like today's, you kind of NEED it to?  Anyway, I struggle with other shimmer spritzes and have pretty much tried them all, and must say that Tsukineko's is hands down the best I've used.  Look at this GORGEOUS shimmer:

You can actually spritz it over the WHOLE card and it doesn't run w/ Copics, stickles (I added a bit on her sleeve and scarf), anything!  Just make sure your ink is dry.  I also remember a demo at CHA where you can actually mix their frost or shimmer (which are the 2 I have) with re-inkers and get all your favorite colors of spritz.  I'm perfectly happy with the sheer Frost and sheer Shimmer and would definitely recommend this product to anyone-Do you use it?  Have you tried it?  I'd love to hear if you love it too.  Just fyi, they're not paying me or anything for this testimonial, LOL.  I just REALLY am happy I finally found something I LIKE!

Well, thanks for coming by today and have a FANTASTIC Friday!  I will be back with some fun Unity stuff tomorrow as well as another post from wonderland :)  Be sure to stop by the rest of the TGF Farmers and Critter Crew today to see their adorable samples:

FARMERS

Randi Wall
Me :) <-you are here :)
Melyssa Connolly
Mercy Kerin
Tammy Maxvill

CRITTER CREW

Sammi Betbeder
Margie Cortina
Heather Schlatter
Jacquie Nordaune
Jennifer Royal
Kristine Reynolds
Linda Muhr
Shaela Odd
Tangii Crain

Thanks as always, sparkly friends!  ~xoxo

Don't BOX us in for this week's Hip HOP!...

                                                                                                                                    Hey, everyone!

Hopefully you're back after getting SUPER-psyched reading yesterday's post and announcement regarding UNITY's Co-Branding adventures!  Be sure you start on the UNITY blog today to re-read ALL the important SALE info and to see just what you can scoop up today!

We are SUPER excited to bring you another THEMED version of Hip-Hop today, the Winter IPPITY release, a new Hip Hop Sketch Challenge, and TONS more, including some Blog Candy here today on the ol' bloggaroo :)   HOW fun is THAT?

One lucky commenter will take home the fun "Love is in the Air" set from UNITY!

Today's Hip Hop theme is Children's Christmas ideas and/or ornaments.  I did a little something different today w/ my project.  Instead of making something FOR the kids, I'm actually making each of them a little Holiday "Thank You Card" Kit.

My family is SO blessed around this time of year-and the children, although I strive every year to teach them about what the TRUE meaning of Christmas is, well...Santa Claus might be one thing, but RELATIVES are another LOL!  I have a few in particular-Grandma, Grandpa, and THEN some, that really love to spoil them this time of year.  So, I think it's really important for the kids to keep in mind, not only what the true Spirit of Christmas is about, but also that they express their gratitude for all the goodies they receive.

I am in the process of making four of these, but here's my first completed kit.  Its for my oldest and I let her choose the paper, etc.  She chose "The Girls Paperie' and I think she has good taste ;) :

I then cut some cardstock, patterned paper, felt, cork, even die cut some sentiment panels and then the kids can pick HOW they want to position everything on their cards and make it their own :)

I used this week's Hip Hop Sketch Challenge to put together the card:

Heres a better peek of what's on the inside so you can see, and the kiddos are free to add/embellish as they like :) :

What do you guys think?   I really like the idea and hope they cherish it.  I also like that these cute card boxes (available at Taylored Expressions) can be refilled so when the kids run out of cards, I can make them some more goodies to use inside :)

Well, it's time to head over to Jimmi's blog now for even MORE inspiration!

EXCITEMENT. LOTS.

Hey guys!

There is SO much going on at UNITY today I will get right to the news...SALE.  SALE. SALE.

Here's just a LITTLE bit of what's goin' on!

CO-BRANDING.  What's up w/ this, you might ask?   

Well, we are ROCKIN' it, UNITY STYLE, with some AMAZING companies!

You've heard of our lines with Cosmo Cricket...Donna Downey, and the latest, ECHO PARK?!   Well you can grab all that and MORE when you check out what the sale includes:

Melody Ross on the website FOR SALE 

Websters Pages STAMPS coming tomorrow!

Samantha Walker HOLIDAY Line on sale NOW

 DEAL OF THE DAY!
$25 for BOTH of these Holiday stamps???
ummm...did I say "crazy"?  Cause that is a brand new Jillibean kit!
NUTS!

Does that say WHIMSICAL?  YES.  Yes it does.... I didn't even know we HAD that set...SHAME on you, Jessica!  But you know what?

UNITY's got a BRAND NEW WEBSITE and there are TONS of stamp sets on there that you should be checking out!

Ohhhh, and there's this one more little ITTY BITTY THING?

FREE ITTY BITTY (unity's choice-Christmas themed!) w/ ANY $25 purchase.

FREE SHIPPING.

Oh, and YOUR NAME, thrown in a jar to win a FREE PINK BIND-IT-ALL package!  I'm KIND of wishing I was a customer, today, LOL!!!!

Can I get a

"WHO DOES THAT???!!!!"

UNITY does.

and WHO gives away BLOG CANDY on a day that ALL of this is announced?

JIMMI DOES :)

SO head over and see her...like, now :)

See you tomorrow for Hip-HOP and surprises!

xoxo