Surprise! Another TGF preview...

...ok, well, it's not REALLY a surprise, 'cuz I told ya I'd be back today w/ one more preview from The Greeting Farm.... introducing.... Oliver and Amelia "SURPRISE!"

{{{Please scroll down for my Stamping Bella-riffic Friday post....thanks!}}}

This new 4x6 set is the THIRD and final preview in a set of adorable birthday releases coming available on August 1st- TGF's 3rd birthday....can you see the pattern of 3 here?  LOL .  I'm SO excited about the party coming up and without further adieu, here is sweet Oliver from the "Surprise" set:

Sweet boy!  The buttons are Crate Paper and the paper is My Mind's Eye.  I love this paper pad and it's almost gone, wahhhhh :(  was GREAT boy paper ;)

Be sure to check out the TGF Blog today to see the rest of the previews and also the blogs of my AMAZING DT Mates...the TGF Farmers:

• Becca Fabozzi
• Carisa Zglobicki
• Denice Bartucci
• Kim Yu
• Tracey Pickersgill
• 
  

See you soon- I'm SO excited my cousin/ BFF is in town with her family and actually LOTS of people are comin' in to Smashville  tonight and tomorrow for our family reunion.  GOOD TIMES, Karaoke, and lots of sweet tea are in our immediate future...God bless the South!  ;)

Have a great weekend- and thanks for scrolling down for my Stamping Bella Friday Challenge!

xoxo,

...a Bella-riffic Christmas in JULY?!...

...ok.  I gotta tell ya- I LOOOOOVE my Bellas.  My Stamping Bellas... ;)

So much so, that it's ONE HUNDRED (and two ;) degrees out and I'm having to bend my brain to Christmas time.  LOL!!!  Now, I know that LOTS of new product comes out LONG before the weather outside gets frightful, but I am so not a winter person to begin with that this is really hard for me.  In fact, I don't even submit to the mag's during this time of year because they usually want Christmas copy and well...I just don't do Christmas THAT early.

However, I pulled out some leftover (and retired) Girls' Paperie scraps and this super cute little stamp "Santa's Birdhouse" from Stamping Bella to make my "Christmas in July" card today:

Well, what do you think?  Are you hearing carols and craving hot chocolate?  I guess I've succeeded if you are...or maybe even just if you think it's cute, LOL!!!

Be sure to stop by the rest of da Bellas to see how THEY got festive today:

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

That's all for me.... be back soon and ENJOY a lovely weekend, everyone!
xoxo,

You're INVITED...

Hey, everyone!

{{{{PLEASE SCROLL DOWN for my DECONSTRUCTED SKETCH post- thanks!!!}}}

We are SUPER excited to cordially invite you to TGF's THIRD Birthday bash/Blog Hop!  Can you BELIEVE the Farm is turning three?  We can't, and it wouldn't be a party without you, so please join us for a CELEBRATORY release!

When: Monday, AUGUST 1st, 2011 

          12:01 am CST-11:59 am CST

Where: TGF Blog

You definitely WON'T WANT to miss this.  WHY?   Well, here's ONE reason...introducing.. BIRTHDAY IAN!  HOW CUTE is this little guy???

This little cutie is one of THREE new releases, to celebrate THREE years!   And what's more?  There will be THREE grand prize winners!

That is right!  Just for hoppin' with the Farm on our THIRD birthday, THREE lucky commenters will be chosen to win the ENTIRE RELEASE!   We are SO excited!

Be sure to check out the blogs of the rest of the TGF Farmers because there is another little party go-er floating around today that you will definitely want to meet ;)

• Becca Fabozzi
• Carisa Zglobicki
• Denice Bartucci
• Kim Yu
• Tracey Pickersgill

That's it for me today, but I'll be back tomorrow with another birthday SURPRISE!  Save the date and see ya tomorrow!

xoxo,

I'm just gonna say this...

I love this sketch:

and I love this girl who makes the sketches:

and I LOVE this stamp set  by VERVE stamps featuring this awesome verse and therefore I love this card:

...and I love this little team of ours, so go visit them because they are lovely:

• Amber Hight
• Angela Sowell
• Anna Maria Nilsson
• Arielle Gordon
• Donna Wardle
• Emma Eads
• Jen Shults
• Jessica Diedrich
• Kadie Ensley
• Lori Boyd
• Sheri Gilson
• 
  

That is all...

<3

Up, Up and Away!...

Well HEY there.

Nice to see ya!  After a day off yesterday, recovering from CHA last week and the wonderful birthday wishes this past weekend y'all left me on Facebook, I'm feeling as if I could float into the clouds today, ha!

Ok, not really, but today my card was made for TWO challenges.  My darling friend Mercy is being CASED' over at the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog and today is the "A Stitch in Time" challenge over at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog:

Now, how could I NOT case my sweet amazing friend?   That girl is the source of SO MUCH love and laughter in my life I can't even tell you- I cannot WAIT to see her later this month!   I even went to the stamp "archives" to pull out this same adorable "Fly Away" set from The Greeting Farm- just a wee bit of dust on it, LOL!  Isn't it sweet?  Here is my card, using the July Key Ingredients Kit by Taylored Expressions and a button by Crate Paper:

I used TWINERY twine in Blossom  to decorate around the card a few times and attach the button with. I LOVE this color combo- so summery and sweet, don't you think?  Oh, before I continue, I just wanted to thank everyone who visits daily and apologize for not getting very far through Google Reader this week.  If I haven't been to your blogs, I will- just CRAZY this past week!

Be sure to see the rest of my Ribbon Carousel peeps' lovely stitched creations today- start on the RCC blog and check out the blogs of:

Angela Thomas - Guest Crew Coordinator

Ashley Nguyen Newell - Sponsorship Coordinator

Corinna McGregor - Crew Captain

Debbie Carriere

Danielle Lounds

Jessica Knutsen

Jessie Knight Rone

Linda McClain

Laurel Seabrook

Savannah O'Gwynn

Sparkle Smith

That's it for me today- I'm taking tomorrow off too but will be back with previews from The Greeting Farm's amazing August RELEASE!  YAY!!!!!!!!!

Bellariffic Friday, peeps!

Hey, all!

As good ol' Willie would say, I'm "on the road again!"  :)

Gotta get back to the fam and I have missed them so I can't wait.  Tomorrow is also my birthday and I am a week overdue on starting the week-long celebration that normally ensues prior to the big day.  HA! 

Just kiddin'...sorta ;)

Seriously though, I am SO excited and looking forward to some sun and FUN this weekend...and relaxing, which by now is much-needed <3

Today at Stamping Bella it's another terrific sketch challenge by the adorable Ebrubella!

There's a FUN little twist on this too- you choose, round or square?!

Here's the sketch:

My card uses only a sentiment, but it's one of my FAVES.. "be HAPPY, it's contagious!"  So true and such simple words to live by :)

I also am keeping up w/ my week of Key Ingredients from Taylored Expressions and use all products from this month's kit again and added an extra flower.  If you're just tuning in,  I'm showing you JUST HOW MANY cards/ projects you can get from a Key Ingredients subscription this week, and that's AFTER I made a set of 4 cards, my Blast from the Past card, AND another card I'll be showing later.  There is SO MUCH you can do with these kits- check them out!

   I haven't made a circle card in a while- it was FUN!

As always, you will definitely want to head over to Bloggabella as there are PRIZES.

One is JUST for commenting on today's post there and another for participating in the sketch today!  Lots of chances to WIN!

....and just so we stay ahead of the game, NEXT WEEK's challenge is a "Christmas in July" challenge.  I am SO not ready for this, but hey, that's why they call a challenge a challenge, right?  ;)

For now, check out the SUPER -dee-DUPER Bella Babes:

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

That's it for me!  I will see y'all soon and have a FAB Friday, everyone!

xoxo,

Deconstructing and possibly combusting...

...from either the EXTREME Chicago heat or the crazy laughter that is probably happening right now between me and the "Deconstructed Sketch" guru herself, Jen Shults :)

That's right!  My girl and I are embarking on Day 2 (SUPERSHOW) day of CHA and I'm excited to be helping out at the  Taylored Expressions booth for a bit, too!  Come see us if you're in the area- the more the merrier, I always say :)

So Jen has provided another FABULOUS sketch for this week's challenge, here is DS11:

And here is my card, in keeping with my week of using ONLY the KEY INGREDIENTS kit for JULY...

I'm really excited that you are getting to see that not ONLY did I complete several DT projects using this kit, including a WHOLE set of cards seen HERE, I have so much leftover that I can just keep going and going! You wait and see- it's only Thursday ;)

I used the super sweet "Annie" stamp from Stamping Bella and the Butterfly Wishes sentiments is also Stamping bella.
I hope you like it!  I have SO much going on this week so I wanted to say a special thanks to all who follow and comment on my blog.  I just noticed the other day that I have made it over the 600-follower mark w/out ever having had a blog candy or giveaway that has 'required' following.  You are ALL here b/c you wanted to be and I can't tell you how AMAZING that feels to me.

SOOOO, be sure to stick w/ me next week while I reveal another special 'paying it forward" giveaway as well as some candy!   For now, I bring you the rest of the Deconstructed Sketch Girls:

Amber Hight

Angela Sowell

Anna Maria Nilsson

Arielle Gordon

Emma Eads

Donna Wardle

Jen Shults

Jessica Diedrich <--that's me!

Kadie Ensley

Lori Boyd

Sheri Gilson

Thanks again for stopping by!
xoxo,

a SUNNY Blast from the Past...

Hey, everyone!

Today is the BLAST from the PAST Blog Hop w/ Taylored Expressions and I am SENDING YOU SUNSHINE (and a HECK of a lot of HEAT, oh. my.) from Chi-town as I am at CHA with my girl Jen Shults :)

I am SO excited to be seeing some familiar faces and can't wait to reunite with some precious friends as well as my cousin/BFF Kim!  HOORAY for CHA!

Today's Blast from the Past Blog hop features a theme of SUNSHINE.   So, I am sending you SUNSHINE using one of my favorite sets from Taylored Expressions, "The Places You'll Go!"

For today's hop, the beautiful Sankari (who I cannot WAIT to hug again in person!!!) provided a sketch:

I have to admit, when I first saw this sketch I was a little skeered, heehee.  But, here's my take on it, using the JULY KEY INGREDIENTS kit:

Be sure to HOP today as there is a FREE STAMP SET of choice from Taylored Expressions that will be issued to one lucky hopper!  Here is the list of talented participants:



That's it for me today!
Take care and enjoy the SUNSHINE  I'm sending your way!  <3
xoxo,

Makin' a Splash...

...with Mystery Monday...on a Tuesday!

Things are CA-RAZAY here this week so I will make this short and sweet but I wanted to tell you about a FUN thing I'm doing on my blog this week.   Are you familiar with the KEY INGREDIENTS SUBSCRIPTIONS with Taylored Expressions?

Well, this week, I'll be posting with the JULY Key Ingredients EVERY DAY!  Why am I doing this?  Well, for one, it's a stinkin' CUTE kit!  Seriously- check it out:

The other reason is to show you JUST how many cards you can make with a Key Ingredients kit.   In addition to a project I'll be sharing next week, PLUS a set of four cards I made shown HERE, I have enough leftover to make TONS of cards so that's what I'm gonna do this week using various stamps.  Sound like fun?  GOOD!   Here we go ;)

Today's card uses the ADORABLE Amelia from the Summer Fun set from The Greeting Farm.  The only thing not included in the kit are the cute chipboard letters...but guess what?   They are from the MAY kit and I still have some leftover to play with, too!  Seriously, these kits are an awesome value so be sure to check them out!

Make sure you stop by the Farm Fresh Challenge blog with The Greeting Farm today too to check out the full details of this week's Mystery Monday challenge...enjoy!
xoxo,

{always.by.choice}

I did post this to my personal blog, too- but I just love it SO much- had to share :)

HAPPY Sunday, first of all!

When I saw this, I literally said, out loud, YES!

I  LOVE this.

it IS a choice...not just an attitude because we feel something "happened' to us- that only places blame.

the SOUL chooses.

did you read that?  The SOUL <3

...love that :)

such an amazing choice we are given- and cuts out SO much of the unwanted, uncecessary drama in our lives.  I don't DO negative-well, at least I try not to.  We ALL have bad days...

but...

we are GIVEN this choice.

TO OWN.

to make known...

just WHICH choice, is OURS.

Loving this- and LIVING it, too <3

have an AMAZING Sunday, everyone!

xoxo,

me :)

Bikin' into Bella-riffic Friday!...

Hey, everyone!

It's Bella-riffic Friday already...can you believe it?  This week FLEWWWW by!

Today I will make this post short and sweet so we can all get to our WEEKEND!

Do you have any stamping in your future this weekend?  I sure hope so, and if you do, be sure to check out BLOGGABELLA for all the deets on this week's challenge and the PRIZES up for grabs!

This week, we used a "Bella or a Stella" stamp.  I actually don't own a Stella (yet ;), but couldn't wait to ink up this ADORABLE "I-wish-I-looked-that-good-on-a-bikeabella" (LOVE the name, lol!) from Stamping Bella.  Here's my card this week, featuring baker's twine from The Twinery:

Isn't that button great?  I love how it picked up the color from the fun papers and the cork that I've been hoarding, I'm almost out- eeks!

Don't forget to visit the rest of the Bellariffic Babes today to see if it was BELLA or a STELLA:

• 
  
• Catherine Groden
• Dana White-DT Coordinator
• Ebru Vatansever-Bellariffic Video "Babaroon"
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jessica Diedrich-that's me!
• Linda Heavens
• Paula Williamson
• Pauline Godfrey
• Robin McKinley
• Tammy Hershberger
• 
  

Last but not least, our challenge next week will be to use this awesome sketch by our own Jeaniebella aka Chicken :)

LOOKIE!  You can CHOOSE which one you want to use -circle or square!  How fun is that?

Thanks so much for stopping by again today-TGIF!  <3

Triple-play Thursday...

That's right!

Today is the 3rd Thursday of the month, and I have THREE cards for you today featuring the 6x6 Sampler Pack of Studio Calico's "State Fair" collection from Claudia and Company!

Have I MENTIONED how much fun I am having with these 6x6 Sampler Packs?  If you've been on the fence about trying them, the FIRST thing I should tell you is that they are ON SALE!  Through tomorrow, the 15th, ALL 6x6 Sampler packs are 40% OFF!  Ok, we are talking CHEAP, guys...they're only around $3 to begin with.  This is a FANTASTIC way to build up your patterned paper collection while getting to try the latest and greatest paper lines- 40% OFF!  That's HUGE!

Today I have three cards to show you from the Studio Calico "State Fair' 6x6 pack.  Here's the first one, using my beloved Pinwheel Die from Lil' Inker Designs:

My 2nd card features the darling "Blush Babette", a new Greeting Farm release ALSO available (and ON SALE!) at Claudia & CO.!

Today is also the Deconstructed Sketch with my girl Jen Shults, so before I show my last card, here is DS10:

...and now here's my card using one of my favorite Verve stamps sets.  That cute Twine?  It's The Twinery- best baker's twine around- SUPER affordable, and ALSO available at Claudia & Co.  This is one-stop SUPER shopping, and again, make sure to check out that awesome sale that my sweet friend Claudia has going on through tomorrow.

Well, I hope you're still w/ me after all those cards :)  I had a BLAST making them and can't wait to show you next month's featured sampler pack, again on the 3rd Thursday of the Month!

xoxo,

Gettin' revved up...

...on some GOOD ol' fashioned CAFFEINE!   

There's nothing like a fresh cup of coffee and a good friend to chat with, especially when paired together.  Coffee and GOOD friends are two of my favorite pastimes, and whether it's in person, or on the phone, good company can't be replaced by much else.


I am TOTALLY excited about the Helmar/PSA Essentials blog swap this week and have a fun project for you using the PSA Peel-and-stick "SMIRK" line. For more info, you can catch me over on the HELMAR DESIGN TEAM BLOG today, too ;)


Here's all you need to put together a super cute (and quick!) treat for the next time you get to hang w/ a good friend for coffee:

I used HELMAR QUICK-FIX Permanent Adhesive Runner and Zap Dots  (black, 1/2" squares) for today's project.


I then took a mini bakery/treat bag (from Taylored Expressions), cut some designer paper and cardstock to fit and stamped out two of these super cute "Caffeine Confidants" in Black ink using my PSA Essentials stamper.  After assembling my cardstock onto the bakery bag and adhering my cute label using the SMIRK Peel and Stick stamp set, I used ZAP DOTS to 'pop' them up on the bag.

Then, it was time to assemble my card :)   I found the PERFECT calendar paper that I could actually write out today's date and circle it for my "coffee date" with ALL OF YOU today!   After stitching some pretty papers together, I wrote out today's date and again used ZAP DOTS to 'pop' up the cute sentiment :)  

 

And HERE is the finished product!   WHO wants to have some "coffee tawk" with me?  ;)

Thanks so much for letting me hang w/ you today for this SUPER fun week of ideas and inspiration with HELMAR and PSA Essentials!


Happy caffeination, everyone!  :)
xoxo,
Jess :)

Getting Inspired...

...with RIBBON CAROUSEL.com's CHALLENGE today and by our BRAND NEW Design Team member, my sweet friend Savannah O'Gwynn!

I have known Sav for about 2 years, I think, back when I first was with Unity.  Savvy is not only sweet, but she's been published NUMEROUS times and just isn't recognized ENOUGH for the talented and awesome designer she is!  I am SO so stoked that she's our newest DT member- WELCOME, my friend!  xoxo

Our challenge this week comes from DT member and another WAY talented chick, Laurel Seabrook!  Here's RCC 11:

I have to admit I struggled a bit when I first saw this challenge. I do not own a SINGLE piece of grey cardstock, for starters, LOL!  Thankfully, it was Stella and Rose (from My Mind's Eye :) to the rescue and some fun rose trim from Theresa Collins.  I am SO glad I pulled something together for this challenge- cuz hey, if you're not REALLLLY  "challenged" sometimes, where's the fun in that?!  The stamped sentiment "Just wanted to say" is one of my favorites from Stamping Bella:

Be sure to check out the rest of our Ribbon Carousel Crew today:

Angela Thomas
Corinna McGregor
Debbie Carriere
Jessica Diedrich
Linda McClain

Laurel Seabrook

and our newest DT member- SAVANNAH!  yayyyy!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the RCC BLOG for ALL the rules/deets/sponsorship deets and prize info as there is LOTS to see over there!   I'll be back TOMORROW with a SUPER fun Blog Swap post for the HELMAR/PSA Essentials swap going on RIGHT NOW!
xoxo,

Where's Waldo?

...or in this case, Where's Jess?

Welllll, I'm featured over on the KEY INGREDIENTS blog today, and I'd LOVE for you to check out my project using the JULY KEY INGREDIENTS from Taylored Expressions!

Here's a little peek of what you'll be seeing over there:

Thanks for visiting!  I really appreciate it...and don't forget the KEY INGREDIENTS DESIGN TEAM CALL going on NOW!  Will it be you, my friend?  Can't wait to see who the newest member is!
xoxo,

Madly Excited...

...about another fun art journal page :)

hey peeps!

I'm back today (on a Saturday, I know!) with a page hot off the press and that'll go RIGHT into my art journal after I'm done blogging about it :)

I couldn't wait to use the hanging hearts from Stamping Bella- I LOVE this image.  The sentiment is something I found on Pinterest which I absolutely ADORE and printed out:

"Be MADLY EXCITED about the potential of TODAY..."

do you LOVE that??????

I also used the MESH background from the Stamping Bella set shown HERE.

How many of you guys are art journaling?  I TOTALLY love it and would love to see your pictures! Weekend project, maybe?

Yes, let's ;)

xoxo,

Jess :)

BELLA riffic RIBBON Friday!...

Hey, peeps!

I have really NO idea where this week went...and that's odd considering it's SUMMER, right?  Whew- the weeks are really flying by, aren't they?

We had a nice little break last week from the Bella-riffic challenges at Stamping Bella, but I have to say I'm glad we're back today; they perk me up :)  

That being said, we're back with a RIBBON challenge this week and I'm using Perk-Me-Up Peep on my card today:

Aren't these little peeps so cute?   I used some saddle-stitched ribbon and tied a bow on one side, using Maya Road wooden button, (my FAVORITE buttons!) and some TWINERY twine :)

We hope you'll play along this week, there's a $20 GIFT VOUCHER prize up for grabs along with a $10 prize just for leaving a comment on BLOGGABELLA today!

Last but not least, speaking of Peeps, you'll definitely want to check out the UBER-talented Bella Babes:

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

That's it for me for now...but I'll be back VERY soon with another post and shortly after, a BIG announcement!  You will NOT want to miss this, trust me!  

xoxo,