LOVE this Life...

...so I decided to write a little LOVE NOTE to my family.  <3

You can see it

HERE.

enjoy!

xoxo,

I am going to be an AUNT!!!! HOORAY!!!!....

YES!  MEEEEEE!

I am SO excited to announce that my brother and his wife are expecting their first child and that I am FINALLY going to be an aunt!  I am OVER the moon about this...and even MORE excited that my kiddos are finally going to have a little cousin!


Being the oldest of 4 kids and having them relatively young (I was just about 24 when my oldest was born), I've waited a long time for the words "Auntie Jess" or "Uncle Chris" to be a part of someone's vocabulary, so we are just thrilled.  SO thrilled that I went right to my "Moka Jenn" stamp set from Taylored Expressions to make my sister-in-law, Jessica (yes, this gets confusing on holidays, especially because her married last name is my maiden name, LOL!!!) a card:

Today is also the 5th Challenge (RCC5) over at the Ribbon Carousel Blog:

I used some pink crocheted trim and some Aqua Twill on my card for today's "anything goes" challenge.  Gotta have pink AND blue since I have NO idea whether I'll be getting a new little niece OR nephew for a while <3  Did I MENTION how excited I am?   Last but not least, the paper is from the 6x6 "Good Day Sunshine" SAMPLER PACK from Claudia and Co. and she's popped up with Helmar Black 1/2" Zap Dots.

WANT TO JOIN us in the "ANYTHING GOES" challenge!?  C'mon! It'll be mutiny I tell ya!  Good times!  ;)

*** Please remember that your creation must have ribbon, bakers twine, jute twine, lace (basically anything that comes on a spool).

We’d love for you to participate! Here are the directions for playing along:

1. Make your creation following the ribbon carousel challenge (sketch, inspiration, style or color) image. Be sure to include some type of ribbon, twine, hemp, lace....basically, anything that comes on a spool.

   
   
2. Load your creation up onto your blog or a public viewing forum like Splitcoast Stampers, (use the keyword RCC5) with a direct link back to THIS post. Including the challenge graphic isn't a requirement, but sure is appreciated! A participant of our very first challenge didn't link back or mention our challenge and couldn't be named Top Spool, so don't let that happen to you!

   
   
3. Come back to this post and link in your creation using the Inlinkz button at the bottom of this post. Your image may take a little while to pop up but don't worry it will appear shortly.

   
   
4. Be sure to come back the Friday after the challenge ends to see if YOU are a Top Spool! :D

   
   

   This Challenge will end on June 6, 2011 at 11:59pm.

Last but not least, don't forget to visit my fellow Ribbon Carousel Teammates:

• Angela Thomas-DT Lead
• Corinna McGregor-Inventor/Owner
• Debbie Carriere
• Jessica Diedrich-that's me!
• Jessica Knutsen
• Laurel Seabrook
• Linda McClain
• Sparkle Smith
• Ashley Nguyen-Newell
• 
  

That's it for me today...see you back here tomorrow for TGF's "Royal Release" day!
xoxo,

Ahoy, there, maties!...

Well, AHOY, indeed!

Hoping you all are enjoying the 3 day weekend in honor of our fallen ones.  We have had a wonderful time out on the lake, hangin' with Grandpa doin' some boating, swimming, etc.  SUPER good times and beautiful weather here in Nash...today is supposed to be another scorcher so we are off to the pool, it's OPEN, finally!

Well,  in other news-welcome back for another day of previews with The Greeting Farm!  Our ship has really come in this month with some ADORABLE new releases on the horizon and this brand new Oliver/Amelia "AHOY" set is no exception!

I couldn't wait to bust open my Pink Paislee "Hometown Summer" 6x6 pack that I got from Claudia and Company-the colors are SO summery and cute and with all this warm weather I am really gettin' into the summer groove!   I colored Amelia in a dreamy little yellow and she could not be sweeter!  My layout for today is the "MYSTERY MONDAY" Case challenge featuring the adorable Kim Yu!  Be sure to check out the Farm Fresh Challenge blog for the details!

Ahoy will set sail on June 1st at The Greeting Farm during our release DT Blog Hop and a HUGE contest announcement that you will NOT want to miss!  See you back in JUST a few days, but for now, be sure to visit the TGF Blog to see how you can win an "AHOY" set all your own!  Thanks for visiting!

What it's ALL about...

Family.

Memories.

Honor.

Respect.

GRATITUDE.

While we are out enjoying the lake this weekend,  I know that it's because it is a time to HONOR our ARMED FORCES...our troops...the COURAGEOUS ONES.... including my Dad who is a decorated Navy retiree, my first cousin, Matt, who is currently deployed (his 2nd deployment) serving and protecting our country, and all of the exemplary men and women who have gone before us, are wounded because of, or are currently serving so that the rest of us can enjoy this beautiful weekend feeling safe because of THEM.

Happy and HONORED to call them our family, neighbors, and courageous strangers.

THANK YOU for all you do!

Helmar "HAUL"! (please bear with me- my first video and wow am I uncomfortable, LOL!)

....SO excited that I recorded "the haul"...

No glue was harmed in the making of this video...

....outtakes to come...there'll probably be LOTS ;)

HINT:  For better quality, watch on the smaller screen and not enlarging it, sorry.  You tube wouldn't take the video b/c it was too long and well, you don't really need to see up my nose anyway ;)

Thank you to my sweet girls for helping film this and a HUGE HUGE Thank you to HELMAR and Tracy Weinzapfel for the AMAZING person and boss that she is!

A ROYAL release is headed your way...

{{{PLEASE SCROLL DOWN for my BELLA-riffic FRIDAY post, thank you so much!}}}

Well,  it is definitely going to be a ROYAL month ahead at The Greeting Farm and today's first preview is a pretty good indication of just HOW royal...Introducing Princess 2!   With TGF's 3rd birthday being only a few months away, we were getting nostalgic and remembered just how popular "Princess Anya" was when she first took her throne as one of the first beloved Anyas.   She has evolved so much since then, but really, who DOESN'T love royalty?  Because of her timeless beauty AND the fact that we love to play dress-up here on the Farm, we are expanding the Princess collection and here she is, Princess 2:

I have to interject for a minute here and tell you JUST how it's paid off to use better products when it comes to cardstock and coloring mediums.   I will tell you that we were in a hurry last night to leave for my DD's 5th Grade Graduation, and one of the kids left a bag of ice on the counter RIGHT on top of my colored image.  I was running behind and hadn't made the card yet, so there it sat.   We got home and there was water EVERYWHERE.   The last thing I'd have had the energy to do is color again after coloring about 8 images the night before.  Can you BELIEVE how well this image held up?  It was SOAKED.  I put it on a dry counter to air dry and NOT. A. SMUDGE.  I colored her on Cryogen White Irridescent 89 lb paper (www.papertemptress.com) and Copic markers.  Amazing, dont' you think???

Anyway, Princess 2 will begin her reign along with other FABULOUS releases on June 1st...and be sure to stay tuned for a HUGE contest announcement on the 1st as well!  I'll be back tomorrow for more fun, but in the mean time, be sure to stop by the TGF blog for more information and find out how YOU can win Princess 2!

Last but not least, we are SO excited to be welcoming our June Guest Designer to TGF,Sharette Smith!  Sharette has been a long time challenge participant and fan of TGF and we are thrilled to have her along this month!   Be sure to visit her as well as:

• 
  
• Buttercup's Blog
• Emma Eads
• Sari Hanninen
• Tanya Tahir
• 
  

See you back here tomorrow!

It's another KRAFTY Friday...

Hiya Bella-riffic peeps!

Yep, it's Friday already...WHERE does the time GO?

Today I have two posts, so thanks for stickin' with me.  Today in Bella land we are gettin' Krafty again...as in KRAFT, NAVY, and GREEN on our projects!

Before I get to my card today, I have to send a HUGE shout-out to my sweet friend Lisa Hetrick.  Lisa was clearing out some stash now that she's diving in full-force to her AWESOME new illustrations for Avocado Arts, a new stamp co.  You can see more about them HERE.   Anyway, Lisa out of the blue just asked me last week if I wanted her Bella stash and I was unaware of how HUGE it was until she sent pics...she sent me over 20 Bellas- ALL from the original Bella line and ALL that I did not have.  In fact, like 8 of them were brand new!   Thank you SO SO much sweet Lisa- I used "Balloon-a-bella" on my card today, one of the stamps I got from her and I just adore her!

I added a Webster's Pages resin Heart as it was the perfect size for the balloons and paper pieced her dress with pretty much the ONLY thing CLOSE to Navy Blue in my stash (not a fan of that color I guess, LOL!)   I'm really not, it's kind of funny.  I own NO navy cardstock, no navy Copics, and no patterned paper.  I don't have anything "against" the color per se, but I'm thinking subconsciously, I definitely don't like it, LOL!

Oh well.... THANKS for stopping by today and PLEASE go check out the awesome Forum now that it's been revamped.  We are even starting the "Bella Book Bunch", a monthly Book discussion group and would LOVE for you to join us!  Stamping Bella is such a fun community and we'd love for you to join us!

Last but not least, don't forget to visit the other Bella Babes:

• Catherine Groden
• Dana White-DT Coordinator
• Ebru Vatansever-Bellariffic Video "Babaroon"
• Elaine Hughes
• Emily Block-Stamping Bella herself!
• Jeanie Witmer
• Linda Heavens
• Paula Williamson
• Pauline Godfrey
• Robin McKinley
• Tammy Hershberger

Deconstructing the Imagination...

...well, maybe not...but it's time for another Deconstructed Sketch!

This week, I'm using my May Key Ingredients kit from Taylored Expressions with a little dash of Twinery twine, the only item NOT included in this month's kit!   I absolutely adore this week's sketch:

Equally adorable is the awesome quote from the beautiful and sophisticated Lauren Bacall:

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly..."

This adorable sentiment is what inspired my card today:

The stamp set is "In the Park" by Taylored Expressions and I couldn't wait to pull out my TWINERY twine to make the little string for the kite :)  I used two colors of twine on this card- Blossom (pink) and Honeydew (Green).  Everything else- papers, cardstock, button and ribbon can be found in the MAY Key Ingredients kit!

Well, thanks for stopping by today and be sure to check out the rest of the Deconstructed Sketch Girls:

Amber Hight

Angela Sowell

Anna Maria Nilsson

Arielle Gordon

Emma Eads

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Sheri Gilson

Probably the SWEETEST RAK I've ever received...literally!

Hey everyone!

I am doing a little giveaway on the TGF Blog today to show you something SO sweet, you won't believe your EYES!

Before I go any further, I just have to say something about our little TGF community.  It is going to be THREE years in August for this little company and while I'm still in awe by that, I'm also not surprised because our community is TRULY special.  Having had the privilege several times of being able to get out on the road and meet some of you only solidifies this, but the ones I haven't met face to face sometimes become just as important to us...

...a few weeks ago, I got a really nice comment on a blog post of mine that, coincidentally had NOTHING to do with stamping.  I got the sweetest comment from one of my blog followers who happens to be a HUGE fan of TGF, Jammie Clark.   Her comment was SO nice that I felt compelled to email back to thank her, and after a few emails exchanged back and forth, it seems I had met yet another one of those 'soul sisters' out there- the ones you don't need time on your side or to know anything about one another until you find out and go "YOU TOO????"

Well, not only do Jammie and I share common thoughts about the universe, we also LOVE sweets ;)  You see, Jammie owns a bakery called THINK CAKE and is the mastermind behind these, that ended up at my doorstep a few days ago:

ARE THEY NOT AMAZING?!!?!?!?!?   I tell you what, they are delicious, but hard to eat because they are SO pretty.   Man, we don't limit ourselves to cards here at TGF, and I LOVE that!  Take a closer look at these beauties:

(my DD has dibs on this one- I'm not allowed to touch, LOL!!)

SO freakin' CUTE!

I have a cough, does that count?  I think I'll eat it ;)

These are just a FEW of the cookies up close- the talent here is truly AMAZING!

I am SO blessed to have 'met' Jammie and I have a feeling we'll be chatting it up for SOME time.   If you LOVE these, she does custom orders and ships, and these cookies ALL arrived in one piece.  I was SO surprised by her generosity and it was truly touching.  Not to mention you should have seen the look on my kids faces, they were NONE too impressed with my baking skills after this, haha!

Be sure to check out Jammie's FACEBOOK page , BLOG and WEBSITE, and thanks again, sweet friend for the WONDERFUL surprise!   Oh, and if you DO "like" Jammie's Facebook page and tell her Jess from TGF sent you, be sure to come back here and leave a comment about these FABULOUS cookies and I will be GIVING AWAY a "BIRTHDAY ANYA" (think....cake ;) to ONE lucky commenter on the TGF BLOG!  (if you don't have a FB page that's ok, just leave a comment w/ some love for our friend Jammie...but really you should have a FB page b/c there are soooo many giveaways from craft mags and stamp co's there all the time- it's the wave of the marketing future, peeps!)

xoxo,

Jess :)

Hi there!...

Hey, everyone!

I wasn't going to post today but I had to play along in this week's Ribbon Carousel Challenge even though it's not techinically my 'week'!  I feel like it's been forever since I posted but enjoyed one of the best weekends ever...if I have time I'll be posting some deets on my personal blog.  Hope you all had a WONDERFUL weekend, too!

Today's RCC involves this adorable cupcake photo pictured here:

As inspiration, I drew from the colors and also the polka dots in some of the fabric 'cupcakes'.  I couldn't wait to ink up little miss Agnes Ketto from Stamping Bella- I have had her for YEARS and finally got to play w/ her.  Isn't she sweet?  I had to give her sparkly wings, of course:

We're also excited to have our friend and fellow DT mate Sparkle Smith's Company, "Sparkle Creations", sponsoring the RCC blog today!

*** Please remember that your creation must have ribbon, bakers twine, jute twine, lace (basically anything that comes on a spool).  I used some simple Swiss Dot for my card today :)

We’d love for you to participate! Here are the directions for playing along:

1. Make your creation following the ribbon carousel challenge (sketch, inspiration, style or color) image. Be sure to include some type of ribbon, twine, hemp, lace....basically, anything that comes on a spool.
2. Load your creation up onto your blog or a public viewing forum like Splitcoast Stampers, (use the keyword RCC4) with a direct link back to THIS post. Including the challenge graphic isn't a requirement, but sure is appreciated! A participant of our very first challenge didn't link back or mention our challenge and couldn't be named Top Spool, so don't let that happen to you!
3. Come back to this post and link in your creation using the Inlinkz button at the bottom of this post. Your image may take a little while to pop up but don't worry it will appear shortly.On weeks when we have a sponsor, we'll use Random.org to choose the lucky prize recipient.
4. Be sure to come back the Friday after the challenge ends on the RCC Blog to see if YOU are a Top Spool! :D

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to hang around for something SUPER yummy tomorrow...yep, I said YUMMY!

<3,

A Bella-riffic WISH...and a BIRTHDAY hop!...

Hey, everyone!

Today is Bella-riffic Friday and it's also my stamping friend and Key Ingredients DT Mate Barbara Anders' birthday!   I was really excited when I was asked to participate in a BIRTHDAY BLOG HOP for her...so if you're just getting here from Wendy Bond's blog, thanks for coming!

(hint-hint- if you get lost for any reason, be sure to stop back at Tammybella's blog for the full list of hoppers today :)  I used Suzette Ketto today for my card:

Hope you like it, Bar!  The sentiment, simply "WISH" is a wish for ALL of your birthday wishes to come true, today and through the year :)

The rosette is from the Girls Paperie Kitch line and I followed this sketch for today's Bellariffic Friday challenge:

Isn't it great?  Thanks to Paulabella for sketchin' it out for us!  Be sure to check out the other Bella babes to see what beauties they whipped up:

• Catherine Groden
• Dana White-DT Coordinator
• Ebru Vatansever-Bellariffic Video "Babaroon"
• Elaine Hughes
• Emily Block-Stamping Bella herself!
• Jeanie Witmer
• Linda Heavens
• Paula Williamson
• Pauline Godfrey
• Robin McKinley
• Tammy Hershberger

Hope you like it!  Speaking of beauties, please check out our brand new "Fun-tastic Forum" challenge-a new MONTHLY challenge in addition to our weekly Friday challenges that is exclusively for our Forum subscribers....GOOD stuff!   Keep your eye out too, for our monthly BOOK club- coming soon! Yes I said BOOK CLUB!

Well, if you're here for Barbaras blog hop, you're off to LYNN's blog next!

Thanks so much for stopping by and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Barbara!
~xoxo,

It's a JUBILEE!...

...The Girls' Paperie Jubilee, as a matter of fact!

{{{Please SCROLL DOWN for my DECONSTRUCTED SKETCH post, thank you!}}}

I myself, am quite jubilant after working with this AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS 6x6 pack of Jubilee papers from Claudia and Co!   It's the 3rd Thursday of May (um, yeah-we'll discuss where the heck this month went later!?)...so it's SAMPLER PACK DAY!

Are you familiar with the 6x6 sampler packs from Claudia and Co?  It's the perfect way to try and collect (yes, I'm a collector, heehee...but in my defense, I DO use what I buy, haha!) all different types of the latest and greatest paper without having to buy a whole pad or 12x12 individual sheets.  This gives you the option to try different ones, too because they are EXTREMELY affordable- around $2.50 to $3 each!

Here's a close up of the cards I made using the JUBILEE 6x6 Sampler Pack.  Remember, these papers are DOUBLE-sided, too, so you get MORE than you even see on the description!  The only thing I added were the crepe paper flowers which are affordable and you can purchase those from Claudia as well:

(using Mojo 191 Mojo Monday sketch)

I really LOVE this paper-and it was you guys who voted for it to be sampled this month!  Thanks for picking such a great pack for me to work with- I can't wait to use more of it!

That's the thing, too- the 6x6 Sampler Packs do go a LONG way!  I barely made a dent in the pack making the 3 cards shown here so you'll get great use out of them too!  Did I mention that Claudia is one of the SWEETEST people I know and one of the most professional too?  Her shipping is quick, service is reliable and again, at a price of around $3, you really can't beat it!

Thanks for stopping by..and be sure to visit the Claudia & Co. Blog today too, for more info!

xoxo,

Enjoy your Day...

Hi, all!

I'm back with some fun from a brand NEW stamp company and our 2nd "Deconstructed Sketch!"

By now, hopefully you've heard that my good friend Jen Shults has started her own sketch challenge called "The Deconstructed Sketch" and we are back this week with another AWESOME sketch she's whipped up:

I am so happy to be a part of this challenge because not only is Jen a great friend but she pretty much ROCKS at drawing card sketches!

Today I'm so excited to be showing you a card using a brand new set of stamps from AVOCADO ARTS!  My friends Michelle and Lisa have begun an exciting new venture and as soon as I saw these cute stamps I had to have them :)  Here's my first creation using "Sunshine and Smiles":

It's so cute right?  I love the every day versatility in this set- the sentiments are perfect to use YEAR round and there are a ton of different combinations of fresh, fun shapes you can go with.   Isn't the grass stamp just darling, too?  And those CLOUDS!  The whole thing just makes me smile :)

I'm so glad you guys stopped by today....and while you're here, please be sure to stop by the UBER talented (and I mean talented!) Deconstructed Sketch Girls:

Amber Hight

Angela Sowell

Anna Maria Nilsson

Arielle Gordon

Emma Eads

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Sheri Gilson

Thanks again!

xoxo,

A "mob" of Birthday Wishes....

...and flowers for the birthday girl!!!!

Hey everyone!  I am SO, SO, SO excited about today!  My friend LORI CRAIG is celebrating her birthday today and I was so honored when Jami Sibley asked if I'd like to be a part of it.   No brainer.  Lori is one of the SWEETEST, kindest people I know in the stamping world and any chance to celebrate her?  Well, ya don't have to ask me twice!

Lori and I met in person about a year and a half ago at CHA Winter 2010, but I knew of her for longer than that as she is very intergral part of Splitcoast Stampers and takes SUCH good care of Marie and I with our TGF stuff.  Most of all, though Lori is just so gentle and sweet and loving and I am counting down the days until our pizza date in Chicago :)  LOVE this girl:

CHA Winter 2011 (forgive my tired eyes, LOL- it had been a long week! haha!)

CHA Summer 2010-Chicago, with the lovely Beate :)

I'm sure you've seen Lori's beautiful work on her blog, "Make a Difference", the perfect name for her blog because Lori DOES make a difference and a light shines from her every time she smiles.  It even radiates through her emails and I wanted to do something bright and cheery for her birthday, just like her!  Lori also does beautiful work on the Sketch Crew for Taylored Expressions so in honor of that, I pulled out my May Key Ingredients Kit and here's my card:

You like?  I hope she LOVES it.  I have to say it again-this is my fave KI kit so far.  I used the "Friendship Blooms" set, stamped the stems and flowers and then cut out another set of flowers and popped them up using ZapDots from Helmar- my go-to dimensional!   The sentiment is from the "In the Park" set, also by Taylored Expressions!

I sure do hope you'll stop by Lori's blog today...and be sure to see where the day takes her!  There are a LOT of other peeps playing along in this Birthday Mob-and we intend to celebrate her ALL day long!  Thanks for stopping by today and Lori, I {heart} you BIG Time.  May God bless you and provide you a year of joy, smiles, health, love, and happiness....we LOVE you!!!

xoxo,

Build a little Birdhouse in your Soul...

Haha...do you remember that silly They Might be Giants song?  Catchy...

...little TOO catchy, LOL...

{{{{oh, and thanks for scrolling DOWN for my RIBBON CAROUSEL Challenge post!}}}

I am singing a FUN tune today, though-singing from the rooftops as today is my FIRST post over on the Helmar DT blog..and here's a sneak peek of what you can see over there:

My Mom is not only the best, but she's my best friend and also my biggest cheerleader.  She gushes over my crafty accomplishments, almost to an embarrassing degree sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way and neither would she.  I love her SO much and she just so happens to love birds.

She collects birdhouses, even bird teapots...so when I saw this little wooden birdhouse at Joann I could NOT resist...and it was outside in a bin for only $1~that's my kinda price tag :)   Didn't it come out cute?

I have to admit I'm especially fond of the 'shingles' I created using a border punch by EK Success.  The Helmar Premium Craft glue was the perfect glue to use on this project as were the Liquid Scrap dots to 'pop' up my butterflies:

I have a step-by-step picture guide on the Helmar DT blog today and would LOVE for you to join me over there!   Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll see you guys again tomorrow!

xoxo,

Jess :)