Sneakin' on by with a PEEK of NEW UNITY...

Hey EVERYONE!

I am in FULL-blown nutty mode, LOL!   Lots of conference calls a buzzin...prepping for CHA, workin' on what seems to be a zillion projects, potty training this ADORABLE pupster, and making sure my kids have something to eat (thankfully DH is on vaca this week for my trip and so he's been a HUGE help-I love you so much, honey if you're reading!)

Anyway, just a little fly-by post as I just HAD to create something for today's 1st sneak peek of the UNITY February Kit of the Month, "...the Best is YET TO BE..."

Isn't it fabulous?   I used some of my fave Girls Paperie paper and colored these adorable lanterns with my Copics in some very soft colors as I wanted to give it a little "glow" but nothing too bright or solid.  Isn't this image by Dana Carlson just adorable?  The sentiment is from the December Kit of the Month.

Speaking of coloring and Copics, I'm excited to show you some stuff I worked on this past weekend after taking Suzanne Dean's Color Me Creative on the Road class with my cousin/BFF Kim Ross!   Kim drove all the way from Chicago to Nashville to visit me for the weekend and on Saturday we hung out and took the class.

I must tell you (although I'll be posting more about this later)-there is a LOT to learn in these classes and she did a great job teaching!  Even if you consider yourself an intermediate or advanced colorista, I really recommend going to her website and checking out the classes.  Definitely NOT just for beginners and I picked up some really cool tips and techniques.  MOST of the stuff I've been coloring though you'll have to wait til next week to see because I have posts lined up until then to get me through the CHA Craziness!

On Sunday Suzanne and I went to Franklin, TN and had an awesome brunch (um, egg/crab benedict can you say decadent?!) and just sat and talked and it was so fun to have time to chat w/ a friend and fellow stamper.  Thanks for everything, girlie!  Luv ya!

Well, that's it for me but I'll be back tomorrow with Hip Hop Thursday, another sneak peek, and can't wait to show you guys more fun stuff!

xoxo~

Peaceful Window in Time...

 Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd come by today with a card that I've been wanting to share but haven't had the chance to blog yet.   I fell asleep on the couch last night at about 8pm-that NEVER happens.  We just had such a nice, quiet night also never happens! LOL!) and had the windows open to sleep as it got up to about 75 here and it was perfect sleeping weather as it cooled off in the evening.   

I've been so busy this week that I didn't realize how tired I was, I guess.  It felt good to have such a cozy, cuddly night with my family.  Anyway...peaceful is the theme today which is ALWAYS a good thing!

I adore this set, Fresh Flowers from Taylored Expressions.  It is so incredibly fun to color and add depth and shading to to really make it look like the sun is coming through the windows and it just makes me feel happy to look at it when finished.

This was just the kind of image that I was ok with using up my last few pieces (sniff!) of my SU "Afternoon Tea" DP.  This was my ALL TIME favorite SU pack of paper and although I am sad to see it go, I'm happy to have used it on this card.

I decided not to stamp the sentiment on this card originally because i didnt' know what I was going to use it for.  But, the more and more I look at it, the more serene it seems to me without anything stamped out on the front so I think I'm going to keep it this way.

Thanks for coming by today!  I'm super psyched about my Friends with Flair card tomorrow and also my Farm Fresh Friday challenge card for The Greeting Farm, so I'm thrilled for you to come back tomorrow if you can make it!

Thanks for being so awesome everyday and for leaving such wonderful words for me to read...I have met so many awesome people through this craft and it just keeps getting better!  Hugs!

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!

Enabler Alert...HUGE Copic Sale Tomorrow...

Ok, so I'm enabling you...but you do NOT want to miss this!

Beginning tomorrow, Die Cuts R Us is having a special order Copic Marker super sale!

Once a color shows "out of stock", it is no longer available for special ordering. Last day to place your order is August 23rd. All markers will ship on August 24th. If you are interested in adding to your collection, or would like to order Copics for the first time, please stop by: www.diecutsrus.com. Wondering what the sale price is? Well its $2.99 per marker. Don't delay! The 1st ever super Copic sale at Die Cuts R Us went so well, that they sold out in 2 days!

In addition, check out their Nestabilities pre-order information and a ton of other NEW products that Claudia just added-OMG I want ALL the new labels and you KNOW where I'll be ordering from! Priced super low compared to most stores, you can add what you've been wanting to your shopping cart...Happy Shopping!

Pretties Wednesday: Caffeine please!

It's no secret that I, uh, kind of LOVE my coffee! This week I need it more than ever as some late nights and busy days have kept me hoppin'....maybe IV caffeine is in order LOL!

Two weeks ago, Jackie Pedro challenged the Prettie Girls to use BAJA BREEZE, KRAFT, and CHOCOLATE CHIP on our next card. Now, as you may recall, I issued a similar challenge a few months back because I simply LOOOOOOVE this color combo! So awesome choice, for sure!

Plus, it reminds me of coffee and hence had to use one of my favorite sets from Paper Pretties, Look Who's Perky! I used COFFEE Shimmerz (had to!) to paint my mugs along with my BG72 Copic which matches Baja Breeze really well. To top it off, I put a little Angel Wings on the "steam" just to give it a little more shimmer.

You can check out what the rest of our Prettie family whipped up for this colorfully sweet challenge by visiting their blogs as well. Show some love to:

Danielle Lounds
Jackie Pedro
Jackie Rokoski
Jana Weaver
Jessica Rone
Jodi Collins
Julie Masse
Charmaine Ikach
Christi Thorsen
Frances Byrne

On Friday, I'll be showing you our new Hola Chica stamp, which is our April Stamp of the Month! Have you SEEN how awesome she is? You have until the end of March to sign up for the Stamp of the Month club! This is a great way to collect the monthly releases of our super cute Sophia stamps, and the best part? You'll receive your stamp sometime during the month BEFORE she is released to the public! How fun is that? In addition, you'll gain access to a Members-only gallery of Stamp of the Month creations and we of course, LOVE to see what you make, too!

And speaking of those Copic Markers... I have something SUPER fun to tell you on that front as well. Did you know that Paper Pretties is now carrying Copic markers for 20% off the retail price? How amazing is THAT? Check it out today and begin stocking up on some great basic colors, whether you're just starting out or have been using the markers for a while now...you won't be sorry you did!

Last but not least? Like this card? You can create one similar from the Prettie sketch of the week. Check out THIS post on The Paper Clip Blog to check it out!

Have a Prettie week everyone! Hugs!

Beginning Stamper? Brand NEW Stamper? NOT a Stamper???

Well, do I have the perfect little thing for you...and that is evident in this quick, 5 or 10 minute card I have for you today!

Whether you're a beginning stamper or have been at this for years, the nice thing about a Card Kit is that it takes a LOT of the guess work out!

Even if you're totally NEW to stamping, you can make this card in MINUTES!

Isn't this new Butterflyabella image from Stamping Bella just TOO cute? You can add it onto your January Card Kit from A Walk Down Memory Lane! They're on sale now in the store!

Want to color Bella like I did? Well then you just might want to join the Copic Club at AWDML , too! Although seperate from the January card kits, each monthly "installment" of Copics (you'll get 6 per month for 6 months) coordinates beautifully with the papers, cardstocks, and embellishments for that month's kit.

Simple as that! I hope you'll check it out and come to LOVE it, especially if you are new to stamping. Please email me your fabulous creations with this kit and upload them to the AWDML gallery...I can't wait to see them!

Hugs,
Jessica :)