I Do...

Good morning, everyone!

There is LOVE, LOVE, LOVE in the air today over on the TGF Blog as we are ringing in New Year's eve with a Farm Fresh Friday challenge and PREVIEW of the new Anya/Ian set from The Greeting Farm: " I Do..."

Funny, LOTS of people get engaged on New Year's eve which I think is so fun and appropriate, too- starting off the New Year with someone you love is the BEST don't you think?   Well, Anya thinks so too...and to show you HOW excited she is...we'll just have to introduce the BRAND NEW Wedding set, "I DO:"

Today's Farm Fresh Friday challenge is to create a WEDDING themed project (shocker!), so I made this cute little Save the Date card :)

Be sure to check out the projects of all the FARMERS AND Team Anya, too on the TGF Blog today!  You'll definitely say "I DO' to this adorable new set!


xoxo...~Jess :)

Hip Hoppin' into the NEW YEAR!...

HEY everyone!

I CANNOT believe it's our last Hip Hop of 2010!  Crazy to think that, right?

Well, I'm really excited to be a part of UNITY, and as if 2010 wasn't exciting enough, 2011 is already looking to be bigger, brighter and even MORE exciting, beginning with our ELEVEN co-brands in 2011! How fun is THAT?!

Today's post is focusing on this adorable Kit of the Month for December-as you can still get it JUST until tomorrow!   Have a looksie at the ADORABLE "JUST be YOU":

I love this kit.   It's so super cute, versatile, and the sentiments just seem to keep getting better and BETTER!  I made a fun card using my fave image from this months kit-this awesome coffee/tea cup:

Today I'm also excited to report our SCS "Shop HOP" day!  We are giving away a FREE Stamp w/ every $10 purchase (that accumulates!  HOW many free stamps will YOU get?!) , have TONS of kits marked down 30-75% off, and all you have to do is enter the code below!

As if THAT weren't enough?  Don't forget you have TWO days left to take advantage of FREE SHIPPING until January, so if there is anything you want to stock up on, have items left on your wish list or maybe Santa left ya some stamping $.?  FUN FUN!  Either way you have just a few days left to save on that as well!

Be sure to stop by my sweet friend AJ's blog next to see what she has for you today, and thanks for stopping by here as always.  I have to say, I have met some AMAZING people through UNITY this year and cannot WAIT to get to know some of you guys better!

I am TRULY BLESSED to be working for such a great group of people, amongst not only TALENTED designers but SUPER sweet ones as well...and to be surrounded in a community of sweet, caring, amazing people like you is the icing on the cake!

HAPPY HOPPING, everyone!
xoxo

Here's your One Chance, Fancy, don't let me down...

Haha...couldn't resist.  HUGE Reba fan here!  What's more?  I'm now a fan of FANCY ANYA...the newest Anya in the TGF line who'll be twirling her way onto the farm as of January 1st, 2011...just a few days away!

Isn't she sweet?  I am really amped up this preview week- TONS of fun in store!   Be sure to visit the rest of my DT mates today, including the TGF Blog and the Club Anya and Friends blog too!

Mercy Kerin

Tammy Maxvill

Tanya Tahir

Emma Eads

Sari Hanninen

Buttercup's Blog 

Jen Shults

Kristy Young

Anna Maria Nilsson

Amber Hight

Barbara Sproat

 On the CA&F blog, you'll read how ONE lucky winner will take home Fancy Anya before she's released on the 1st!  Good luck, everyone!

Have a fancy- free day!  xoxo

Am I Dreaming?...

Wahhhhhh, say it CAN'T be the last Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge?!   Well, sadly, it is, but we are going out w/ a very special post and a preview from The Greeting Farm today.

While I am sad to see the MTSC's come to a close, I completely respect Mercy's decision to move forward and am SO blessed to call her my friend forever.  Thankfully we already have our next 'playdate' set up or I'd be going through withdrawls.   Well, it's been a PLEASURE working with the Muses and so with that,  I bring you MTSC106...our final sketch:

Today at The Greeting Farm is also another preview day for our January release!  This set is the CUTEST!  It's called "Little Dreamer".  Ok, seriously?!?!  If this set had been around when my kids were babies, I'd have done a border with it.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the concept and sweetness of this design-DREAM BIG.  LOVE that.  It's what I want for ALL my kids.

That said, I made a "wish box" for us.  I thought it would be cute to write down our dreams/hopes/aspirations and have them tucked safe in a place where we can check in every once in a while and see our hard work and determination paying off as the days/months...even years go by.  Here is our "Wish Box", using LITTLE DREAMER:

 Back of box:

side view/front:

I love this and cannot WAIT to see how it fills up!   Be sure to check out the other DT members posts today, including the Farmers on the TGF Blog AND Team Anya on the Club Anya Blog!  ONE OF US Farmers has a "Little Dreamer" set hidden on our blog today-winner will be announced tomorrow!  Until then...

xoxo.  MUCH. LOVE.  <3

A VERY Special Birthday Surprise!...

Hey everyone!

{{{PLEASE SCROLL DOWN for my Greeting Farm preview post-you will NOT want to miss the Naughty Niceness that is going on today over on the Farm :)  heehee}}}

I got an email from Karen Motz a while back asking me if I'd like to participate in a BIRTHDAY BLOG HOP for our sweet friend JODI COLLINS and OF COURSE the answer was YES!

Jodi and I met a few years back on DT together and have been cyber-friends ever since.   The only gripe I have w/ this chickie is that we have crossed paths at TWO CHA's and weren't able to meet in person yet, but that's ok!  That hug I owe her just gets bigger and bigger ;)

So today is Jodi's BIRTHDAY, hooray!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, chickie!!!!  Love ya lots and wishing you ALL kinds of happiness and wonder in the year to come!

I know that Jodi really ROCKS the MFT Pure Innocence chicks and I adore her creations w/ them :)  I don't have very many in that dept, but I whipped this up for her today:

Hope you like it, Jod's!  I wish you a BLOOMIN' good day for SURE on your birthday and just couldn't make you a winter card, LOL!   Bring on those flowers!

Your next stop on the bday hop today is the lovely and talented KAREN Giron!   Thanks for coming by and in case you get lost along the way, here's the full list of Bloggers today celebrating JODI!

Karen Motz - Paper Playhouse

Leslie Good - card shown on Karen’s blog

Jackie Pedro - The Scalloped Edge

Ann Kranitz - Stamp with Me

Jessie Rone - Can You Say, Addicted to Stamps?

Charmaine Ikach - Oodabug Alley

Jessica Diedrich - Yeah, She Stamps

Karen Giron - The Sweetest Thing

Wendy Bond - Bond Girl Bliss

Regina Mangum - The Stamping Bean

Danielle Lounds - Fat Cat Stamper

Melissa Sauls - In Stamping Mode

Joanne Basile - Just a Little Something

Jami Sibley - More is More

Denise Marzec - The Paper Landscaper

Dana White - Dana’s House of Cards

Taylor VanBruggen - Taylored Expressions

Tori Wild - Wild Sprinkles

Sankari Wegman - Sankari’s Sunshine Corner

Jessica Knutsen - There She Goes

Julie Lacey - Stamps and Taxes

Piali Biswas - Touch of Creation

Corinna McGregor - Stamping with a Java Junkie

Natalie Dever - Dougnat Diaries

Iwona Palamountain - Random Acts of Creativity

Torico - Stamparadise

Angela Thomas - Sparkle and Bling

Be sure to leave the BIRTHDAY GIRL some love today too...and if you wouldn't mind, please scroll down to view my PREVIEW post for The Greeting Farm...a very happy and busy Monday here on the ol' blog!   MWAH!

Perfect Angel?...

Hello EVERYONE!  Hope you all had a very MERRY Christmas and that it was full of magic and memories!  Ours was BEYOND WONDERFUL.   SO SO SO many amazing memories I don't know where to begin!  I am still processing all of the holiday wonder-and have even MORE fun and family planned for this week-WOO HOO!   Before I get to all that, though...

We are beginning January previews today with some HUGE news and fun announcements...are you all ready?  First and foremost, we have some HELLO's and Goodbyes.   The Greeting Farm would like to thank Melyssa and Randi as their terms with TGF are ending and we wish them both well!  From now on, TGF Farmers terms will be 6 months long instead of one year and although it probably won't make it any EASIER to say goodbye to our talented designers, we are excited about this! 

Also saying goodbye this week are the FABULOUS members of our Critter Crew. Not because their terms are up, but because the Critter Crew itself will no longer be considered a 'team' of TGF. While we will surely have a cute critter by Marina from time to time, we will no longer be releasing these on a regular basis and it is with an ENORMOUS amount of gratitude that we say goodbye to such a WONDERFUL team of designers!  Thank you all so much!

Well, now that we've gotten the sad part out of the way, we have THREE NEW FARMERS to welcome to TGF and a new Guest Designer that we are THRILLED about!   Please welcome:

TANYA TAHIR

EMMA EADS &

SARI HANNINEN as our 

THREE NEW FARMERS and please welcome 

BUTTERCUP as our January Guest Designer!

ALSO, we are welcoming BARBARA SPROAT as our January Guest Designer at 

Club Anya & Friends!  Woo hoo!

TONS of excitement going on around the FARM!  And as if that werent enough?   Check out our first preview, a Cheeky Cherry "NAUGHTY or NICE" set!

I LOVE her!  She is so sassy and yet, the perfect angel, hee hee.  Notice the QUESTION MARK I added to the sentiment?  HA!

Be sure to head on over and WELCOME our new designers and to visit ALL The TGF DT, including Team Anya as they have previews for you today too!  We'll see you back tomorrow on the TGF Blog with a chance to WIN a new Oliver and Amelia set!

Love & Hugs to you ALL!

Wrappin' up the week w/ some Christmas treats...

Hey everyone!

Well, it's here!   MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Looking back on this year, boy do I have a lot to celebrate.   It's been a FANTASTIC 2010 and I can only hope that 2011 is even BETTER!

Before we all disperse to our family and friends for these blessed next few days, I have my contribution to The Greeting Farm's "Hostess with the Mostest" contest.   Here is my hostess gift, for my Mom with cookies made by the kids:

Our favorite Christmas cookies are the traditional cookie press cookies and the kids went WILD baking them for the 2nd time this season.  We had SUCH a blast last night sprinkling and SAMPLING lol..what a fun family activity!  The tag is from the "Merry Tags" set by TGF.  The stickers and paper are Echo Park "Wintertime" collection and the Mini Bakery Bag is from Taylored Expressions :)

Be sure to check out the TGF Blog today for a few more samples and that's about it for me today!

I'm excited to share a lot of fun things w you in 2011...I have a new team coming up as I've been asked to design for The Twinery for 2011 and I'm thrilled about that!   I am hoping to renew my Key Ingredients term as I ADORE Taylor and her wonderful kits and will let you know more about that soon, too :)  I will be amping things up at The Greeting Farm , and will also be taking on more excitement with Unity Stamp Co. as they are going to be BOOMING in 2011.

On a personal note, I will continue to write, erase, edit, erase, and write before I can finally put the finishing touches on my book as it goes to publishing houses for the 110573639 rejections I will probably get before someone finally takes a leap of faith (I hope?).   I am preparing for some traveling in the new year as well and I will have TONS of exciting things to share.  

Thank you so much for sticking with me...and now....

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a GOOD NIGHT!  :)

Hung up on HIP HOP...

Helllllooooo world!

Can you BELIEVE it is DECEMBER 23rd?  HIP HOP!!!!  In case you are new to Unity Stamp Company,  that is what we shout when we are excited about something...and hence, it turned into our little Thursday routine-complete w/ a DT blog "hop", all tying into a resounding...HIP HOP!

Seriously, though-I can't believe it's THAT time....and I am SO excited!   I have a fun card to show you today from the Kit of the Month for December, called "Just Be You"...

I LOVE the versatility of this kit-it is one of my faves :)   I really adore the big scalloped image in this kit, and also thought that the phone and "Im' hung up on you" sentiment was TOO fun not to create with.  Somehow I wanted to tie it all together, but wasnt sure how....until THIS came to mind:

I really like how this turned out, for a quick, quick, card.  Nothing makes me happier than to know that I can still crank something out in 10 minutes if and when I want to :)  I used some red satin PTI ribbon and  tied the button w/ some Marischino twine from the TWINERY :)   To add a bit more color, I paper pieced the inside of the circle w/ this fun plaid paper from Cosmo Cricket.   Overall I'm pretty pleased w/ the way it came out...and I am HUNG UP on this month's kit!  Adore it :)

Be sure to head on over to my girl Jimmi's blog next to see what she has for you today.  And don't forget to start at the UNITY blog, because there are a TON of sales and offers going on right now...I'm afraid I'm going to forget something!

Here's just a FEW of the awesome sales and promos going on:

*FREE SHIPPING until January

*several RETIRING sets ON SALE for original Kit Club prices now through TUESDAY before they are gone for GOOD!

*New Co-Branded stamps including Iron Orchid Designs and Echo Park "Be Mine" collections-GORGEOUSNESS beyond words!

*KIT CLUB Subscriptions NOW AVAILABLE for 6 mos or 1 year-what a FANTASTIC gift!

Well, that's about it for me....but I do have ONE more little card to share-I made this a long time ago and it's on the way to my sweet friend and our AMAZING Design Team Coordinator AJ Otto.  AJ does SO, SO much for us Unity girls to keep us organized, in the loop, and works uber-hard so I wanted to send her a little shout out today :)   I luvs ya TONS girlie and appreciate you so much!!!

The "Winter Wishes" stamp was from the PaperCrafts Magazine promo...which brings me to my last little bit of happy....GUESS who has a card published on page 77 of the Jan/Feb Papercrafts issue?  Yes, ME!!!!!!

I was THRILLED to be published by this mag and cannot thank all of you enough for the emails and congrats I've received-from people who I didn't even tell.   That feels SO good I can't even tell you!

Thanks for stopping by today w/ all the excitement and if I don't talk to you-have a VERY Merry Christmas and I'll see you SOON!

The Little Things...

Hey, everyone!

{{{{ETA: I am SO sorry that my MTSC post is late-I'm not sure what happened but Blogger is being naughty!!!  Oh, and I didn't get to see the Eclipse because it was so cloudy here-I set my alarm for 12:45am, 1:30, and 3:30 am and got up, went outside, scared the pants off of DH and still no luck, LOL...}}}

I am anxiously awaiting the viewing of tonight's Lunar Eclipse and thinking back on 2010 with a good feeling and it really made me think of this quote from Ippity:  "The little things?  THEY AREN'T LITTLE".  

That is SO true.  If I had a nickel, even a penny, for every little glance exchanged with one of my kids, every laugh with a friend, every smile with a stranger, I'd be a very rich girl.  But see, that's just it, I FEEL rich...I feel truly blessed.  So, as this year comes to a close, I invite you to look back on your 2010 and cherish all those "big things" that might not seem so big at the time.  I love that we can do that.

As 2010 comes to a close, we are also saying goodbye to the MTSC Challenges, next week being our final sketch.  Above is this week's sketch, MTSC105.   I want to thank Mercy, for having me on this super fun team, but mostly for her friendship and the fact that I found two of my best friends, Mercy and Pam, through stamping.  I love you guys-and although stamping may have brought us together,  we are so much more than that now.   So as our sketches come to a close, I won't be sad...as we all will have a little more time on our hands but a lot of those 'little things' that we know are BIG THINGS to cherish and also to look forward to continuing.

In that spirit, here's my card using IPPITY stamps:

I do have some BRAND NEW IPPITY for sale-check out my current inventory and specials HERE :)

Until later my friends,
xoxo ~

DUDE...where's my card?...

Haha-see what I did there?  Isn't there a movie called "Dude, where's my car?"  I seem to recall there might be :)

{{{{THANKS FOR SCROLLING DOWN to see my OH, ALICE card and our latest "curious' post, etc, etc ;)}}}

 today-I SO SO appreciaete it
WHY the California-inspired lingo this morning?  Well, there's a DUDE Challenge going on over at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps on their Challenge Blog!   This week, we are excited to announce a special, extended challenge and well, it's for DUDE's only!

Have your husband, boyfriend, son, uncle, brother, (whoever!) get to stampin'! and voila!  It's kind of fun, a nice break for you but chance to win free goodies from Kraftin' Kimmie! 

You can only imagine that my two boys were ALL over this project!   Here's the 1st one, made by 8 yr old Jack:

And here's the 2nd card, made by 8 yr old Nicky, using the newly released "Private Message":

And of course, I had to snap a pic of both of my little ballers after we got hom from a VERY exciting basketball game. THey played their hearts out tonight!  They were SO cute.  Thankfully we have another one this afternoon to keep us busy and happy!   And hey, when we get home...there's always more stamping with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps!

    

Pardon my bias but these are two handsome little fellas.  I just adore them  <3...and so do all the little 2nd grade girls, I think!   LOL!!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be by with an Oh Alice post shortly~xoxo

CHAPTER 44: `Curiouser and curiouser!'

`Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English); `now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!' (for when she looked down at her feet, they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so far off). `Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on your shoes and stockings for you now, dears? I'm sure _I_ shan't be able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself about you: you must manage the best way you can; --but I must be kind to them,' thought Alice, `or perhaps they won't walk the way I want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of boots every Christmas....

Hello from all of us here in Wonderland! This week we are Curiouser and curiouser to see if you are willing to play along with our weekly challenge. The challenge is a simple one, and one that most of us should be able to play along with, we would like to take Wonderland and turn it into a Winter Wonderland! Yes, that's right.....put your boots on, hats, mittens and lets play in the snow! Alice, with a hat on? Rabbit in the snow? Anything that reflects a Winter Wonderland. Have fun with it!

This week we are being sponsored by SUGAR NELLIE / FUNKYKITS. They are a fabulous company and you really should go over and take a peek. 
Sugar Nellie is a small Scottish company that brings you fantastic rubber stamps from some amazing artists. Funky Kits is the sole online retailer for Sugar Nellie stamps - so head on over to grab yourself some of that sugary goodness. I sure wish I was able to win this one. This set of stamps are fantastic!  IT'S A PRIZE I'D LOVE TO WIN!!!! 


Unfortunately I dont own any Sugar Nellie stamps, but our Saturday sketch challenge by my amazing friend Jen Shults allowed me to bring out my BEANIE ANYA from The Greeting Farm and I had NO PROBLEM w/ that :)

Here's the sketch this week over at Club Anya & Friends:

Be sure to check out the Oh Alice blog and the blogs of my teammates as they are sure to have lots of goodieeees to share :)

Thanks for stopping by...TWICE!  <3

Be Mine for Hip Hop Thursday?...(bats eyelashes ;)

Hello Hip Hoppers!

Today we're VERY excited about the BRAND NEW Releases from Echo Park and UNITY STAMP CO this week, including the new "Be Mine" collection that I have to show you today:

...and card #2... (I couldn't stop at just one-LOVED it so much!)

Yep-using the "Be Mine" Patterned Paper from Echo Park and this new kit? Talk about making my heart skip a beat!  I LOVE this new collection and how perfect for the upcoming holiday!  Of course, not Christmas, sillies!  LOL-but seriously-we all know as soon as the 25th comes and goes, we'll all be hard at work on those Valentine cards and actually, the whimsical and vintage feel of this set makes it perfect for YEAR round fun!

I'm SO excited about all of our new releases-and also want to remind everyone that this month's Kit of the Month is spectacular!  Here is this month's kit, "Just Be YOU":

As if that wasn't fun enough?  In ADDITION to the FREE SHIPPING on ALL orders until January?  Check out this AMAZING sale and giveaway promo this week:

I hope you guys will head on over to my friend Jimmi's blog next-I'm sure she's made something BEAUTIFUL for you to look at!

Take care, everyone!  The weekend is ALMOST here!  See you back here tomorrow with a Farm Fresh Friday post and a FUN special challenge at TGF ;)

xoxo~

The Key Ingredients to say "Thanks SNOW Much!"...

Hey everyone!

Well, it's the 15th of December.  Ack!!!  Yes, I'm sure that there is still a lot to do for all of us, but I sure do hope you're enjoying every minute!

Also fun on the 15th?  The reveal of the BRAND NEW KEY INGREDIENTS kit from Taylored Expressions!  I am SO excited about the December Kit-take a look:

Isn't it fabulous?  All that yummy Echo Park paper and awesome coordinating ribbon and snowflakes?  PERFECT for winter cardmaking...and in our case, we are showcasing winter THANK YOU cards today on the Taylored Expressions Blog.   What BETTER way to kick off your after-Christmas cardmaking with some much-deserved THANK YOU's?   I made a little set of four, using Penguin Pals by Taylored Expressions:

Aren't they sweet?   Here's a shot of each of them individually:

Igloo Thanks Snow Much:

Blue Thanks Snow Much:

Mistletoe Thanks Snow Much:

Snowflakes Thanks Snow Much:

Are you subscribed to the Key Ingredients Kit Club?  Taylor offers a 3 or 6 month subscription for a GREAT PRICE!  And w/ the Holidays coming, maybe you KNOW someone who'd LOVE a subscription from Santa?   Don't forget, w/ a TE Key Ingredients subscription you get 10% off the TE store during a monthly discount period and access to the Key Ingredients Idea Gallery, too!

I hope you liked my Penguin Pals set and I can't wait for you to see what the rest of the Key Ingredients Design Team came up with this month:

• Taylor VanBruggen
• Jen Tapler
• Melody Rupple
• Lisa Hjulberg
• Lynn Put
• 
  

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the subscription details HERE.  Also, you can stop by the Key Ingredients BLOG to see all the details again of this month's kit and more examples from the Design Team! :)

See you tomorrow, everyone!  xoxo