Claudia & Co. BLOG HOP!...

{{{PLEASE SCROLL DOWN for my TGF PREVIEW POST...thank you so much!!!}}}

Hello and Welcome to Claudia and Company's first ever Customer Blog Hop!  We’re so excited to have you join us!

Today Claudia and Company is celebrating all of us- their dear friends and customers and that includes YOU!

If you’ve just joined the fun, be sure to pop over to the Claudia and Company Blog to start the hop and get all the deets!

I've been a HUGE fan of Claudia & Co. ever since my Die Cuts R Us DT days and was really excited to find out about this opportunity!   I stumbled across this ADORABLE digi "Girl with Kite-Sugar Sticks" BY LORI Designs and just HAD to use it for today's hop :)  BRING on the Spring!  Is this image not the CUTEST?

I decided to add some dimension using the paper tole technique and think this little Sugar Stick girl is TOO darling for words!   I hope you enjoy it as much as I do  (DP is Echo Park, who's whole current line is available in the Claudia & Co. store!)

Be sure and leave a comment on each of today’s fabulous posts, to be eligible for the PRIZES that are up for grabs! You'll have until Monday, February 28, 12pm EST to comment. Winners will be announced on March 1, during their Release Day Showcase.

Here is the complete list of stops on the Hop! Thanks for joining us and happy hopping!

LORi

Tracy

Sheri

Sandra

Krista

Kadie

Piali

Joni

Gwen

Sheng

Margie

Kelly

Jeanette

Cara

Kimmarie

Arielle

Hannah

Beverly

Sharette

Joy

Susan

Carol

Nicole

Paola

Mary J

April

Barb

Lorie

Sarabeth

Catherine

Veronica

Jessica

Judy

Taylor

Lysa

Jen

Jess <---you are here!

Pam

Heather

Mary

Claudia

DIE CUTS R US DT CALL!!!

The DT at DCRU will be closing the current DT term soon. What does that mean for YOU? We are looking for a few GREAT people to join our team!!

Please read all the details below and good luck!!

Hip and Trendy Online Store, Die Cuts R Us, is looking to add 3-4 members to the existing Design Team! We welcome all U.S. designers to apply. Are you passionate about creating? Do you love the newest and latest products and papers? Then what are you waiting for?? APPLY! 

Dates: Submissions in by January 25th, 2010 

Announcement of team on blog January 31st

Term Date: February 1st, 2010 - August 1, 2010

Details: Open to US only. (Due to shipping)

A DCRU Designer:

1. Participates in weekly challenges posted on the blog. Members know of challenge details a month or more prior to deadlines and each is responsible for uploading their project and recipe to the blog before it goes live. Challenge projects can be done in advance and added at any time. Members also have prescheduled posts throughout the month for which they are responsible. These inspirational posts are designed to encourage followers by showing tips, tricks, techniques, color combo, ideas, etc. Members may also be asked to provide a tutorial at some point during their term to show a "How To" project. Designers are to use as many products as possible that are available in the DCRU store when posting on the blog. You can view items sold at http://www.diecutsrus.com/.

2. Has the opportunity to create a challenge(s) of their own to be used on the blog and aide in choosing the weekly winners of the challenges.

3. Gives positive feedback and encouraging words, comments on challenge entries, and aides in the recruiting of new bloggers and followers to the DCRU site.

5. Advertise http://www.diecutsrus.com/ on social media sites (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc) as well as your blog and anywhere else it is acceptable to do so. This can be a simple, "Have you seen what's new at DieCutsRUs.com?", "Come see my challenge", "Did you see my layout, card, project….?". Be sure to include a full link back to the site so people can find what you are talking about easily.

6. Communicate with Owner & Design Team Coordinator about absences due to illness or vacation or the inability to complete a requested project.

7. Finally, a six-month commitment to give http://www.diecutsrus.com/ your best and to help to continue to make it a wonderful friendly, fun, and positive site. You are to be exclusive to DCRU as a web store design team member. You may still be a designer for kit clubs, challenge sites, manufacturers, etc.

Here is what you will get in return:

1. Bio and Photo on our DT link/site along with an active link to your blog and a Design Team Member Button for use on your blog and/or site.

2. The opportunity to receive and create with a DCRU Monthly Card Kit during a scheduled month during your term.

3. A Design Team Creative Pack which includes items from the store to use in the creations of your challenge entries and inspirational posts. Product and the creations made from said product are yours to keep with the understanding you use it to create, post, and promote the DCRU store and the blog. (This includes linking to the product in the store in your recipe or write ups.)

4. A great place to show your work, inspire others, and be a part of a fun team while building your resume'.

5. Discount Codes & Free Shipping Codes emailed to you once a month for your personal purchases at DCRU. All details for these discount codes will be released to the new team.

Submission Process:

Complete the following questions and email to: diecutsrus@me.com 

Please put DT CALL in the subject line.

*Please attach 2-3 projects that be represent your work.

*Include: Name, mailing address, phone number, email address

*Attach your Crafty Resume (if you have one)

*Include the answers to the following questions in your email:

1) Why are you interested in joining the DCRU team?

2) Are you currently designing for another website/company? If so, who?

3) Blog address:

Those who wish to be seriously considered are encouraged to join in on 2 of the next 3 challenges hosted on the DT blog located at http://www.diecutsrusdesignteam.blogspot.com/

Challenges go live on the dates of 1/5, 1/12, and 1/19. please put DT ENTRY after your name in the Mr. Linky. This will allow us to get a better idea of how your style will fit in with the team and how you manage deadlines.

Thank you and Good Luck!!

A VERY Merry Blog Hop...with Die Cuts R Us!

Hey everyone!

A VERY Merry Christmas Eve to all of you!

We have a special celebration to kick off all of the fun this weekend will bring and put YOU in the holiday spirit....our VERY FIRST Blog Hop at Die Cuts R Us!

If you are just getting to my blog, be sure to back up and start at the beginning, on the DCRU DT Blog.   Starting from there, each of our wonderfully sweet and talented DT members has a KEY WORD for you today.  They'll be scrambled, but eventually you'll see that they have a special message for you to figure out!

Remember to comment on the blogs and gather all the "key words" from the DT blogs! You will get to unscramble them at the end of the hop and email the "phrase" you come up with for a chance to win a prize from DCRU!

There are so many items on my Christmas Wish List from Die Cuts R Us!    This is especially true now that Claudia has PRISM CARD STOCK in the store!  I LOVE it-it's my favorite cardstock and I was THRILLED when she said she was going to have it at the store!   I used it on my card today in Rose Medium and Frosted Teal, one of my FAVE color combos!

I made this card JUST for this hop using Sketch #6 from The Greeting Farm's 12 Days of Sketches, and couldn't have done it without my fave Nestabilities which are also available in the DCRU Store for the fab price-lower than most stores I've seen!   Seriously, all the DCRU prices are so good, Santa should be relieved that I'm going easy on his wallet....sorta ;)

Now, for my Key Word!!! (Be sure and write these down!!) THE

Off you go to the next stop on this Holiday Blog Hop! The talented and super sweet CARA!

Oh, and as an EXTRA Christmas present?  Our good friend and AMAZING DT Coordie Sammye Jo has a TRAVEL ANYA to give away on her blog!   Make sure you check it out!!!

Have a wonderful Christmas, everyone!  I'll be back on Saturday but in the meantime, enjoy the magic.   I am so blessed to know all of you blog friends and I wish you all the joy, peace, and wonder of the Season.  I love you all!

Want to WIN a Greeting Farm Stamp TODAY?!

Hey peeps,

Super quick (and thanks for scrolling UP, actually, for my UNITY post today ;)--------------

I have a SPOTLIGHT on the DieCuts R Us DT Blog today and we're giving away a SASSY SUZI stamp to ONE LUCKY COMMENTER...so head over there now and let me know whatcha think!

Thanks!
Jess :)

Butterflies are Free...

Hey everyone,

{{{Kind of a long post today.  PLEASE scroll down for MERCY'S TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE and a preview of a BRAND NEW stamp from the Greeting Farm that is FAIRY awesome, if you ask me ;)}}}

Today's Challenge at Die Cuts R Us has us feeling girlie and whimsical and I LOVE that!   There aren't a whole lot of cards I want to make that DON'T involve at least one of those two things, LOL.   Anyway, today's challenge is to simply create a "girly" card and so head on over to the DCRU DT Blog for more details on that!

Also, be sure to check out what the rest of the DCRU DT has been up for this challenge:

• Amber
• Cara
• Gwen
• Jessica (that's me!)
• Lori
• Margie
• Sammye Jo-DT Coordinator
• Sarahbeth Burke

Ok, now for the disclosure, LOL....: The rest of this post is a bit nerve-wracking as the idea for my card today came from a date that I wish I didn't have to commemorate, but that has left an indelible mark on my life as well as many others around me.  I wrote something several years ago and haven't showed it to anyone and well, for some reason, today I felt it was time.

Eighteen years and 9 days ago, I got a phone call from a friend to let me know that one of my childhood best friends Meggan had been in a terrible accident.  She was 14, I was 15.   It had been a few years since I had seen her on a real regular basis because I had moved to another town and we were going to different schools, but she was one of my favorite people and I adored her and her family.

On November 17th, 1991, Meggan died as an innocent victim of a careless, reckless, and horrific drunk driving incident.  The next year or so of my life was pretty tied up with emotion, regret...a year that was  consumed by following the news and papers to be sure that justice was done to the drunk kids responsible for her accident and that ultimately took her life.  I became a confirmed Catholic that year and took her name w/ special permission from my church as my Confirmation name to honor her life.   Most importantly, though, I made the choice to become an advocate for my high school friends about the dangers of drinking and driving and the devastating impact and ruined lives it can cause in the process.   That is one thing I NEVER did and now that I'm a mom myself, I really hope I can instill this in my kids.

I normally try not to turn blog posts into Public Service announcements but please, do not drink and drive.  If there is anything I know, it is the pain and sheer agony that has been caused to Meggan's family and all the people in her life who knew her and loved her...including me.  Not to mention the two other girls killed in that crash.  It happens all the time...every minute... and it has to stop.  When I think about who that wonderful, BEAUTIFUL girl would have been today it makes me crazy to think that it couldn't have been stopped...I can only imagine how her family feels.  Especially today.  November 17th.

There isn't much I can do today to comfort her family who still relives this horrific event every day...not even much I can do for myself not to be sad from time to time, but you better believe that I will do everything I can to turn around what I know and try to remind people, especially my own family.    In thinking about all of this tonight, I wrote something for Meg, and although I'm a little apprehensive about sharing it, it means too much not to.

My whole life I've been obsessed with butterflies.   You all know this by now, I'm sure :)   When Meggan died, the liturgy program for her funeral mass had the words "Butterflies are free" typed on it.   It moved me at 15; you can only imagine how it moves me to think about that now.   I hope you, too are moved by the poem I wrote so many years ago...the rhythm/banter isn't the best, obviously, but I hope you find it as meaningful as I do and that it moves you in some way.  You may have to click on the pic to read it better, but those were my words years ago and they still ring so, so true today.

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far.    I just want to say this:


Even if you tell ONE person not to drink and drive today, you could save a life.  Perhaps several.

I want to dedicate today's post to Meggan's family, specifically my friend Jen, Meg's sister.  She is a beautiful person on the inside and out and I know she could use an extra hug today...which I am sending across the miles, Jen..to you and your Mom.   Thanks for all you do to educate people and to keep Meg alive and with her loved ones as best you can.   I love you guys always.

Much love and thanks for being here,
Jessica

HUGE DCRU News...and a Giveaway!...

Hey everyone,

I'm a little late here on the ball-we've had a few things come up this week and it seems as if I've fallen a bit behind...a big reason was running out of printer ink!   Why is that a problem?

Well, because DieCuts R Us JUST RELEASED a BRAND NEW DIGISTAMP and I kinda needed the ink to print it!!!  I also missed yesterday's LPS post because we were supposed to use a digi...of ALL weeks to have this challenge, I tell ya!

Anyway, I am SUPER pumped to be back and be able to show you a peek of this NEW image:

The digital stamp release HAS NOW BEEN RELEASED at the DCRU Store!  Please check out Claudia's (owner of DCRU) blog to see all details of the release.

Now for my card:

Today also happens to be the NESTING CHALLENGE over on the DT blog!   The DCRU DT is having a WONDERFUL time playing with the new Nesties "LABELS 9" and have lots to show you, so be sure to get over there and play along with us this week!   I used the new Digi and the Nesties on my card for today's challenge and had a BLAST!   The sentiment is from Verve stamps and I thought it was PERFECT since we all know how FUN stamping and scrappin' can be! 

What's more?   THERE IS A GIVEAWAY THIS WEEK on EACH DCRU DT MEMBER's BLOGS, and there is still PLENTY of time to play!!!   Leave me a comment here, letting me know how you like digi stamps and I'll randomly pick a winner. The winner will receive my card plus a few goodies including some DP, ribbon, and a few embellies.   Think of it is a CARD KIT of sorts ;)  You have until SATURDAY NOV. 7th at 8PM CST to enter to win!



Visit these links to see MORE from our DT and have MORE CHANCES TO WIN:

• Amber
• Cara
• Gwen
• Jessica (that's me!)
• Lori
• Margie
• Sammye Jo-DT Coordinator
• Sarabeth

Last but not least, don't forget to visit Claudia's blog for the DT's digi projects and MORE giveaways for you to enter!

Winners will be announced on November 8th!

GOOD LUCK and thanks for stopping by today!

Oh!  and a BIG "P.S."...If you are here for MERCY's TUESDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE,  I WILL BE BACK LATER or TOMORROW....but be sure to check out her blog!  THANKS!!!

An All-Boy Preview and CALLING ALL KIDS!...

Hey everyone!

I am SO excited about today's post-it's a doozy, but there is a VERY special contest at the end that I'm so excited to announce so stick with me!

Today it's time for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge and she has another FAB sketch for us this week:

Love it?  Wanna play along with us?   FANTASTIC!  Just upload your card or creation to your blog or gallery and make sure to head over to Mercy's blog where Mr. Linky is waiting for you!  And don't forget to check out the rest of the Muse's and their AWESOME take on this fun sketch, including our AMAZING November Guest Muse, the sweet Silke Ledlow!  Stop by and leave some love for:

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

 It's also time for another Challenge at DieCutsRUs and we're using the fabu "Boyfriend" line of DP from Cosmo Cricket to create a "Boy/Masculine" themed project.   These are always challenging for me because of my love for everything blingy and flowery!   But, I hope I did ok ;)  Stop by the DCRU Blog to enter your creation as it's sure to be true that the men and boys in our lives need a little TLC, too!  And, be sure to stop by the DCRU DT gals, too to see their awesome takes using that sweet Boyfriend DP:

• Amber
• Cara
• Gwen
• Lori
• Margie
• Sammye Jo
• Sarahbeth

What's even BETTER?  It's time for sneak peeks at The Greeting Farm!  Most of you who've visited are aware of the MUCH-anticipated Twinkle Tot line that we've been sorta sneakin' around my and Marie's blog for a few months now...with the addition of Ava and Max that were revealed last week, we have FIVE NEW TWINKLE TOTS that are being released THIS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1st!  Woohoo!  These little stamps are SO cute, you're gonna need them...ALL of 'em!  Wait until you SEE what the TGF DT has for you today!  OH MY WORD can you say AMAZINGLY, RIDICULOUSLY CUTE???  Be sure to stop by The Greeting Farm's blog and also visit our FABULOUS TGF DT:

• Cheryl Walker
• Cindy Haffner
• Kadie Ensley
• Lisa Futch
• Lynda Nielsen
• Mercy Kerin
• Sandra Maclean 

What's more?   We have a SUPER EXCITING ANNOUCEMENT TO MAKE TODAY:  Please welcome (back :) KIM NATH as our newest FARMER at The Greeting Farm!

Kim has been WOWING us from the beginning with her creations and we are SUPER psyched to officially have her back beginning with our November release!  CONGRATS KIM!!!

These girls are so talented they will knock your socks off!   So, want to know the BEST part about this Twinkle Tots release?  Wait til you read THIS:
*****************************************************************
We have not one...but THREE contests BEGINNING TODAY in the TGF Galleria!

***CALLING ALL KIDS:  "THIS TOT'S GOT....*** contest!!!

We are SO excited to announce THREE contests, beginning RIGHT NOW for the wee ones!  ONE RANDOM winner will be selected on Sunday, November 1st (release day!) for EACH CATEGORY to WIN THEIR CHOICE of one of the new Twinkle Tots!
Here's how to enter:
Here are the THREE categories for the "This Tot's Got..." contest:

"This Tot's Got...BLING":  Kids (ages 0-13) are to create a card or project using bling :)

"This Tot's Got...COLOR": Kids (ages 0-13) are to color their little hearts out using crayons, markers, pencils, paint, copics?  (gah!)  Just COLOR it up!

"This Tot's Got: A STORY": Kids (ages 0-17) are to create card or project based on their FAVORITE CHILDREN's BOOK.

RULES:
*Create a card or project, based on the THEME and AGE GROUP above.

*Kids will have until Sunday, November 1st, at NOON CST to enter the above three contests.

*PROJECTS MUST use TGF stamps. 

*Please upload your projects to:  TGF Galleria>Contests/Challenges>This Tot's Got> one of the 3 categories listed above.

Remember, the winners for these contests will be selected at RANDOM.  Can't WAIT WAIT WAIT to see the submissions!  If you don't have kids of your own, grab a niece, nephew, or neighbor!  ALL can enter to WIN their CHOICE of ONE new Twinkle Tot!

Winners will be announced on Sunday November 1st during our release party/VSN!  Dont' forget to join us on Sunday, 11/1 from 7PMCST to 9PM CST for some fun, prizes, and chatter with the DT and all of our wonderful friends of  the FARM!


Thanks for stickin' with me, guys!  See ya tomorrow....I double dare ya to come back ;)

Caterpillar in 'da twee"...

So, this is one of those posts that I just wish could stay at the top of my blog forever...LOL.   It's a bit long, but if I can put a smile on your face today while I am feeling all warm and fuzzy just typing this...then I'll be thrilled.

{{{Before I go on, PLEASE scroll down for another Earth LOVE Feature and also for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch challenge today!  THANK YOU SO MUCH for sticking with me! }}}


One of the games my kids and I always play is "Im the Peanut Butter, You're the Jelly"...ok , so I don't really think that's the actual NAME of this game...or if it even is a game?  But, it's something that we've done since my first was a wee tot.  Basically we just say things that go together to let each other know how much we love each other and how much one needs the other to do what we're supposed to!  Plus, it's also a really good exercise for the kids to have to come up with things that go together.    Here are some favorites:

Madelynn:  "I'm the milk and  you're the cookies"...."I'm the notebook, you're the pen"

Jack: "I'm the pirate, you're the ship" (lol!)..."I'm the pancake, you're the syrup"
Nicky: "I'm the butter, you're the popcorn"..."I'm the webkin, you're the computer" (I kid you not )...well, THEN there's Ava.


For a while, it was a bit harder for my then 2 year old (who is now almost 4) to comprehend this game, so we'd get things like "You're the pizza, I'm the french fry"....or, "you're the makeup, I'm the cherries".  SO random.  OMG I am cracking up just writing this.   Well, as time went on, my little baby wasn't such a baby anymore and  she started to get it..."I'm the cupcake...you're  the frosting".   There is something both happy and sad about the moment that a child "gets it".  It means there will be no more silly sayings like "I'm the blanket and you're the grapes" (true story, haha)...but it also means they're growing up and gaining sooo much insight and knowledge and it makes you feel good too...


Anyway, close to a year ago, we were sitting at Chili's.   It's ALWAYS a good time to play this game while the kids are waiting for their food...  However, the BEST part about this story was that we actually weren't playing it...when OUT of the blue, she SHOUTS (and I mean, shouts!)  "MOMMY!!!!!!!"  Shhhhhh!  lol "Yes Ava?"  


"I'm the Caterpillar...and you're the BUTTERFLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Clearly this was her LIGHT BULB moment.  She totally got it.  And um, HELLO could the kid have chosen anything more perfect?  Surely she knows how much I LOVE butterflies.  


From that point on, it stuck...we've been referring to her as "Caterpillar" ever since.   

When the Hannah Montana soundtrack came out (from the movie), my 9 year old said "Mom, you have to hear this song!  It's about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly and getting older and stuff"...that kid's insight AMAZES me, but that's a whole 'nother story....  The song makes me BAWL every time I hear it because as much as I know it's going to happen, I can't stand the thought of my babies not being babies anymore sometimes...  Here's one of my favorite lines of the song:

 "Caterpillar in the tree, how you wonder what you'll be, can't go far but you can always dream...."

Ok, sniff, enough....and if you're wondering about the title of this post, well..that's how little Miss Ave pronounces the song :)  LOVE that...another sign she's still my baby, right???

Anyway, I'm sure by now you can only IMAGINE how it took me all of oh, 30 SECONDS from when I saw this digistamp from Inktegrity on my friend Heather's blog to go buy it!  My friend and fellow Club Anya Guest DT Joni Wilson is actually the owner and illustrator of this image and she is awesome!


Today also happens to be the DieCuts R Us Challenge to create an "Earth Friendly and/or themed project."  Can you say PERFECT?     We would LOVE for you to play along this week, so be sure to check out the details HERE.  

I used Cosmo Cricket's awesome "Earth Love" DP paired with a Chipboard sticker of theirs and created this card on 70% recycled Kraft paper.  The caterpillar CRAWLS in the ground/earth..so that counts too, right?  ;)  The layout is from Jen Del Muro's SFYTT this week.  Click HERE to see it-its a great sketch!



I had to print out the verse from the song because...well, by now, if you've stuck with me, you know EXACTLY why.


Hope this makes you smile...have a good day, everyone...~Jess :)

Gimme some LOVE...

EARTH LOVE!

I've seen this ALL over blog-land, but can I get a what what for this PAPER PACK???  LOVE.  Cosmo Cricket is seriously my hero these days for DP....am I right?

Well, today I have not one, but TWO challenges to share with you today: 

DIE CUTS R US Tuesday Challenge &

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge

So, over at DieCuts R Us, we are lucky enough to have a challenge going on to create an EARTH friendly or themed project, and the talented ladies there are showing off some serious Earth LOVE using the Cosmo Cricket line!   Be sure to head on over and play along!

It's also time for another Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge...YEAH!  Mercy is not only a wonderful friend, but an amazingly talented artist AND designer and her sketches NEVER disappoint...and hey, she thought me worthy of being on her sketch team and that is pretty darn awesome!!!

This week she has a fabulous sketch and we sure do hope you'll play along!

If you haven't guessed by now, my card today uses the Earth LOVE paper pack that I've been raving about :)  The "For You" is a little cut-out from that line as well.   I added some distressing, piercing, and that AWESOME flower stamp is from the new UNITY stamps October KOTM.  Add a little bling, a little silver...and voila!  Hope you LOVE.  I LOVE :) 


Be sure to check out the rest of the MUSES creations and leave some LOVE for them too...I am ALL about the LOVE today, folks!  (but I'm sure you've picked up on that already ;)

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

And don't forget to leave some LOVE for our October Guest Muse, Silke Ledlow!


So, you want to get sketchy with Mercy?  Get Earthy with DieCuts?  Here's what you need to do:

TO ENTER MERCY's SKETCH CHALLENGE:  Link your creation to Mercy's blog using Mr. Linky, and if you're uploading to a public gallery, please use keyword MTSC44.

To ENTER the "EARTH CHALLENGE" at DieCuts R US:  Just leave a comment on THIS post linking your creation!  I can't wait to see your take on this SUPER fun challenge!

Well, thanks for sticking with me today...I really enjoyed sharing my story with you on the above post and it means the world to me that you are here in all my long-windedness today :)  LOVE you guys....

You can Learn Alot of Things from the Flowers...

...and you can learn a LOT about me, if you don't already know it, from this card ...especially if you can make it to the end of this post, LOL....

I think we all know as stampers that although we always work hard on a card, there are some cards/projects that you REALLY throw yourself into to make it YOURS.

On that note, I have a VERY special installment of Mercy's Tuesday sketch Challenge as I am revealing a BRAND NEW set from The Greeting Farm, being released on the 15th, simply titled "SIGNATURE". Each week, my friend Mercy brings us the most AWESOME sketches and we'd LOVE for you to play along! All you have to do is follow this sketch and enter your name HERE.Be sure to check out the rest of "Mercy's Muses" this week to see their takes on this SUPER fun sketch:

• Cindy Haffner
• Crystal Birr
• Jackie Pedro
• Julie Lacey
• Mercy Kerin
• Pam Speidel
• Pam Varnell
• Silke Ledlow-our FABULOUS October Guest Muse!

************************************************
I have to tell you, I'm SO excited about this set. It's AMAZING. Not only does it include the FIRST THREE DIGI images that Club Anya ever released (now in Rubbah!), it also includes the Club Anya Crest, the signature Greeting Farm logo, and a "handstamped by" stamp! Be sure to check out the rest of Team Anya's sneak peeks over at the Club Anya blog today and leave them some love on their own blogs, too, to learn more about their SUPER cute projects:

• Amy Young
• Kelly Booth
• Kim Costello
• Pam Varnell
• Suzi McKenzie-Guest Designer

Ok, so not only did I follow Mercy's AWESOME sketch this week, it was also time for an awesome "Make your own Embellishment" challenge over at DieCuts R Us! Now, Claudia is a HUGE supporter of TGF and actually carries the line in her store so this all ended up working out quite nicely as they are getting a little sneak peek too of this new "Signature" set that you can own on THURSDAY!

If you have a chance, be sure to check out the DieCuts R Us website this week because Claudia has SPELLBINDERS for 35% OFF til the 17th! That is HUGE!

I used the American Crafts "Craft Fair" collection of DP to create this Dahlia Fold flower that I just LOVED creating. Want to play along in this challenge? Click HERE.
**************************************************************
Last but not least, a little more about my card:

If you've been coming to my blog for any amount of time, you PROBABLY know that my ALL-Time favorite movie is Alice in Wonderland. So it was a no-brainer that my signature pink card needed Alice and of course, my signature Butterfly. It was also WAY fun to have the Club Anya crest stamp at hand so that the very happy VP (me!) could add that into my signature card. My signature embellie? Well, one of them anyway...DEFINITELY a flower. SO the Dahlia Fold was a fun touch for me to add.

All in all, it's Signature Jess. Pink, girlie, and a little bit (ok, a lot bit :) LOUD.

Enjoy your day, folks! Thanks for sticking with me on this SUPER long post...I really appreciate that you're here on this journey with me! HUGS,(yeah, she signed it ;)

Giving Thanks...

ACK!

So, I don't know WHAT happened to my post this a/m but I think Blogger might have seen these apples and decided to eat my post???

That's all I got.... anyway, today's CRAZY 4 CHALLENGES blog post is chock-full of GORGEOUS cards from our team and the theme is "THANKFUL". Yep, that's right! All you need to do to participate in this week's challenge is to create a thank-you or thankful-themed card!I was SUPER excited to break out this stamp from the "Autumn Blessings Borders and Centers" pack from JustRite Stampers. Claudia at DieCuts R Us has AMAZING prices on JustRite products, including the "Merry Little Christmas" Borders and Centers pack that I just got in the mail today! Her shipping is SUPER fast and her prices are SO low...you need to check them out! Especially because today is the LAST DAY of the Copic Sale...Ciaos for $2.99 a piece!

Mr. Linky is waiting for you over at the C4C blog, but for now, be sure to visit the rest of the "Crazies"....they are:

• Barbara Anders
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Jessica Diedrich
• Jessie Rone
• Joanne Grzelak
• Jocelyn Turner
• Lori Boyd
• Lynda Benden
• Mercy Kerin
• Robin Willis
• Vicki Garrett

Thanks for visiting...see you on Monday with that surprise I can't wait to show you!

DO you DARE to get Colorful?

I do! I do!

Well, truth be told I'm probably not up for much as you read this because I will have had a wisdom tooth pulled as of yesterday afternoon...and unfortunately to pull the tooth they had to remove a little piece of jawbone...yeah, NOT happy can I tell you? But, thank heavens for auto-post right? hahaha...yeah, I'm kind of a barrel of nerves right now but hopefully I am DONE with it all by the time you land on my happy lil' blog today ;) Thanks to everyone for their support over these past few days...you guys are so wonderful to me!

Well, today is Wednesday, WHIMSICAL Wednesday to be exact...so time for another DIEDRICH DARE! This week, my DS Nicky decided to inspire us by sharing one of Mom's favorite treats combined with his favorite animal...and voila! You have these ADORABLE Froggie cupcakes:
This photo inspired the challenge this week over on the DARE BLOG...and make sure you check it out, because there is a PRIZE involved! ONE lucky winner will receive the adorable "DOWN by The POND" set from The Greeting Farm! Nicky LOVES frogs, so he hand-picked this prize himself :) Good luck to all who enter! You may remember the little sneak peek I showed of this card yesterday. Although I really was torn about making a froggie card myself, I decided to use the colors from this week's challenge to create a card for the COPIC CHALLENGE that is also going on now at DieCuts R Us! Who DOESN'T love a 2-in-1 challenge card?! I do! I do! This card uses an exclusive DieCuts R Us digital stamp that is being showed as a teaser for actually another stamp being released VERY soon...Claudia is even going to have a contest to NAME her stamp, so stay tuned!

In the mean time, check out the other marvelous samples from the rest of our DAREDEVILS:

• Darla Wilson
• Heather Schlatter
• Jacquie Peifer
• Jessica Diedrich
• Kim Ross
• Lisa Hjulberg
• Lisa Slusser
• Rebecca Ednie
• Sandra McLean
• Taylor Usry

Thanks for stopping by today everyone and for being so awesome! I'll see you back here tomorrow for something SUPER SPECIAL...omgosh you will NOT want to miss it! I am so excited about it and can't wait to share it with you! Hugs!

Jessica :)

A little Sneaky Peek...in COLOR!...

Hey everyone!

If you've been to my blog this week and also, if you've seen my sidebar for the last few days, there is a HUGE Copic Sale going on right now over at my friend Claudia's store, DieCuts R Us!

I have been so excited about this sale (seriously, Ciaos for $2.99?!?!) that I have a special post and challenge prepared over at the DieCuts R Us Design Team blog today...so check it out if you will! There's a Greeting Farm stamp up for grabs for playing this week, too! How cool is that?!

So today I'm posting just a little sneaky of a project I will be showing in full here tomorrow for the Diedrich Dare, but you can see it TODAY if you head on over to the DCRU Design Team blog to find out all about the challenge!

Thanks for reading and talk to you soon!
Jess :)

Spotlight on...

...Copic Markers!Hey everyone!

Happy Monday!

I have a Spotlight feature on COPICS over at the DieCuts R Us blog today, and don't forget, the COPIC SALE is going on now! Claudia has Ciaos for $2.99! Don't miss out! See you over there!

Oh, the Possibilities...

....ha ha that reminds me of the Campbell's soup song!

Today, though, I mean the possibilities....of what YOU could do with ALL the amazing products that are available at Die Cuts R Us!

Check out our challenge for more info.... and a peek of the project I have there :)

Have a great evening!

Jess :)

Fluttering with Textures...

Hey everyone!

***PLEASE scroll DOWN for a Greeting Farm post and ANOTHER Little Paper Shop Post....THANKS It's a busy day today but I sure do love when you stop by!***

We have an AWESOME Challenge today over at the Die Cuts R Us Design Team blog... and one that you'll see is right up my alley!

This week's challenge involves EMBOSSING....and I think we ALL know it's one of my fave techniques! I just love the added texture and visual interest that embossing adds to my paper crafting projects. Do you feel the same?

The lovely and talented (and newly announced preggers...congrats!) GWEN HESSON issued the DT girls at DCRU a Challenge to EMBOSS IT!

Well, I had a blast making this card using the August Kit of the Month from UNITY STAMPS. LOVE these stamps...LOVE the whimsical, fresh, and funky design that is like a breath of fresh air in this industry! LOVE that it pushes me out of my comfort zone to create. I know it sounds silly, but I really feel like Unity is making me a better stamper, which is something I want to continue to aspire to!I embossed the sentiment using White craft ink (pigment ink) and then clear irridescent embossing powder from Joann. I also got out my Cuttlebug embossing folder to DRY emboss the swirls underneath the cut out heart. Check out the DCRU STORE for a wonderful array of products that will add plenty of texture and flair to your projects, too. There are a ton of new products in the store arriving all the time, so be sure to check them out!

Even my Martha Stewart punch has a little embossing above the zig-zags.

What's your seal of approval? Stamp it out with our new "EMBOSS IT"Challenge over at Die Cuts R Us...we'd love to see what you can do!