Oh where, oh where can I beeeeeeeeeee?

haha..can you hear me singing?

I have missed typing to y'all....and wanted to pop on quick just to say...

I'm back.

I was HERE.

I just took a break.  For the past two years I spent hours burning the candle at both ends to struggle to get blog posts up for the week I was at CHA and came home to realize it didn't really make a difference, lol.

This year I just vowed to simplify and spend more time prepping myself in other ways...not to mention we had a ton going on.

My family was here for our "2nd Christmas", and I got to see my brother and sister and that was priceless.  Then, the next day Madelynn performed in her first competition and that night I jetted off to LA after being able to watch her perform.

I spent this past week connecting, reconnecting, networking, and working. hard.

Many people are under the impression that CHA is a big party and while it is, it's also really hard work.  After what seems to be months of prep work and planning,  I work a booth for 10 hours a day, mostly on my feet the whole time and I'm there to sell stamps..not just to hang out.  The only reason I mention this is because I am very much invested in how well TGF does and I take it very seriously.  and I am "on" the entire time, if that makes sense :)

That being said- of COURSE it's fun.

It's a once-a-year, sometimes twice if I'm lucky, event that brings many like souls together in the same area and you can't put a price on that.

I have deepened roots of friendship with many people, laughed, cried, and felt appreciated and understood by very special women who are like me and who understand me.  I love that.  I love it SO much.

This is just a SMALL...and I mean SMALL sampling of the lovely people I got to spend time with this past week...more pics to come when I get them off my camera....there are a TON!

oh....and I got to meet this chick too...pretty darn cool:

So...that's where I've been...and I'll be back tomorrow with an actual piece of card stock turned into art.  LOL.  It's been TOO long and I'm beginning to feel intimidated by my craft desk, ha!

xoxo,

Jess

My Little Girl...

Hi, everyone!

Just a quick post this quiet Sunday to let everyone know that there's still a bit of time left to play in The Greeting Farm's Customer Challenge & Chit Chat night challenges from this past Friday night!

What FUN we had!

I have to thank our lovely hostess Rachel Parys once again for putting a FABULOUS night together for us and for whipping up some pretty amazing samples too!

Our theme was "A Night at the Bookstore" and there are THREE challenges...I used the "Favorite children's book" theme.

I had NO idea that Tim McGraw had written a children's book a few years ago, titled after his song "My Little Girl".   I absolutely love this carefree story about a girl and her Daddy and how they spend the day together and how sometimes..OFTEN times, actually, doing nothing is doing EVERYTHING.

Seriously, check it out- it's the sweetest book and I read it to the girls quite often :)

For my card, I used Make a Splash Amelia's head/arms and Creeper Sasha's body and boots- the combo totally reminded me of little Katie here in the book :)

The challenges are all listed HERE and they're open until NOON tomorrow, so if a crafty afternoon or Evening is in your future...you know where to FIND us!

xoxo,

You Are...

...getting sentimental!

Wait, no, I am!

That's cuz this past Monday's "Monday Fun-day" challenge on the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog was to "get sentimental", so I did just that ;)

I LOVE this sentiment (and such a pretty font!) from the re-released "Lucky Bunnies" set by The Greeting Farm.  I love it and have been thinking it's way too awesome of a sentiment to be tucked away on the inside of a card, don't you agree?

I used some Crate Paper "Emma's Shoppe" DP I had leftover and added a few Prima spray roses and a little bling ;)   I added the "It's Your Day" sentiment which could be used for birthday, a special congrats or celebration, or in this case, maybe a dance competition or two ;)  We shall see!

Be sure to check out all the details of this week's Monday Fun-Day!   Thanks for stopping by, everyone!

xoxo,

This lil' creeper is Lucky in Love...

Hey, everyone!

We are getting LUCKY today on the Farm Fresh Challenge blog!

LUCKY IN LOVE, that is!

This month's "RETRO-FRESH" challenge is up and ready to go on the Farm Fresh Challenge blog and this little Creeper Abbey is blushing she's so pretty in pink...not like her normal 'punky' self ;)

CC Abbey was released at The Greeting Farm in May 2011...can you believe it was that long ago?  See?  It's not hard to find a "retro-fresh" TGF stamp....and you'll want to play along this month because a 4x6 OR Clear stamp set of YOUR CHOICE is up for grabs to a lucky winner! 

...and talk about laid back!  You have ALL MONTH to play along!

Check out the rest of the details on the FFC blog and be sure to visit my teammates:

• April Davis
• Joni Wilson
• Lisa Gobea
• Margie Cortina-Team Captain
• Sharette Smith

See you tomorrow, everyone!

xoxo,

NEW Year, NEW RELEASES, NEW DT...Lots of TGF NEWS!...

Hello friends!

HAPPY. HAPPY. HAPPY.

2012. is. here.

I personally LOVED 2011, but we are welcoming 2012 with some pretty FUN NEWS here at the Farm.

Today our SIX new stamp sets are available, and what better way to kick off the year than with a 

HUGE PRIZE!?

One lucky winner who hops today will win the ENTIRE January release!

ANOTHER lucky winner will win a 4x6 set of choice from the new release or a clear set of choice!

Here's my card today, using the awesome "Miss Anya Garland" set:

Our PREMIERE Farmers are the girls who will normally be bringing you the release day fun, but TODAY we've invited some very special guests to join us on the hop....

our EIGHT new SHOWCASE DT members!

Please begin the hop here and WELCOME:

Emily Martina

Larisa Hohman

Samantha Peyton

Peggy Toole

Naomi Gong

Thanh Vo

Veronica Ohlsson

Tracy Valure

More to come on these talented ladies tomorrow....We are SO excited!  For now, keep on hoppin' to:

Wendy Ramlakhan

Maria Therese Hatloy

Simonne Clay

Corinna McGregor

and 

Jessica Diedrich!

WHEW!

CONGRATS!  You have officially RUNG in the NEW YEAR with The GREETING FARM!

You have until 11:45PM TONIGHT CST to complete the hop, so brew some coffee, pop open some bubbly- whatever your time zone and HAVE FUN starting on the TGF BLOG!

See you back here tomorrow with the WINNER of the Blog Hop prizes and a proper introduction for these EIGHT new showstoppers!

xoxo,

Jess and Marie <3

Note to self...Part 2.... ;)

Hi, everyone :)

I'm back today with "part 2" of the post I started HERE.

{{{if you're looking for my Lucky Bunnies preview, please scroll down, thanks!}}}

Today marks week 23 and the last week of our "heART Journaling" project at The Greeting Farm.  I am SO grateful for this project.  I will admit,  there were a few weeks when I was seriously wondering how I was going to get a page done...squeak out some form of 'art' because I was tired, pressed for time, sick, busy...whatever... but I am SO glad I finished it.   

I now not only have my first completed art journal (you can see the beginnings of it HERE), I also have been inspired to keep going because I realized that art is only how I see it....and I'm making memories for a lifetime...for myself and most of all, to pass down to my kids.

Here is my 23rd entry and first completed journal, with this week's "Letter to Me" project (cue Brad Paisley ;)

You'll see that the 1st page is what I showed you on Thursday during Unity's Hip Hop...the rest is actually taken from a "brave girls club" email that really resonated with me, especially because of some awesome personal things that have happened during this time period while I was working on my first art journal.

I know that art journaling is very personal, so I applaud anyone who has been sharing.  It really is bearing your soul on a whole different level...and even if you haven't posted publicly, if you're art journaling at ALL...congrats.  Cuz it's really kind of a beautiful thing, isn't it?

xoxo,

You're about to get LUCKY!...

...LUCKY BUNNIES, that is!

The Greeting Farm is at it again with some serious cuteness...and we're back on the TGF Blog with another FUN preview today and we're SO excited to share it...the RETURN of TGF's "Lucky Bunnies" in CLEAR form.

For those of you who have been fans of The Farm for a while, you'll recognize this as one of the FIRST sets ever.

For our newer friends, rest assured this is a good one :)  I know I have 3 little "Easter bunnies" that have March birthdays so I'm ALL over this for their cards this year.  In fact, here's one I was playing around with and made last night:

Head on over to the TGF BLOG for more awesome previews from our PREMIERE team of Farmers...and we'll see you SUNDAY for release day!

I'm also playing along w/ the Farm Fresh Challenge "Spyday" today so head over to check out today's challenge!

xoxo,

Makin' some TGF {hearts} flutter...with a GIVEAWAY!

Hey, everyone!

Marie and I have some SUPER fun previews of a new set, "Flutter Heart", releasing on January 1st at The Greeting Farm!

This new set is REALLY original and different and I love that it's releasing JUST in time for Valentine's day- you guys are gonna LOVE it!  I made two tags and a CAS card using this new set and Marie has some previews on the TGF BLOG as well as mine.

This first tag is going to be featured on a Ribbon Carousel tutorial tomorrow so be sure to visit to see how easy you can create these fun ribbon flowers:

The next tag I created using the "JOY" sentiment as well as the  and I really love the red gingham ribbon on this one as well:

Finally, I created a fun CAS card and I LOVE this super cute boy/girl image:

Want to WIN this set today?

Just leave a comment here letting me know your thoughts on this fun new set and we'll announce a winner on FRIDAY on the TGF BLOG!  (you have until Thursday at 8pm CST to comment :)

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!

xoxo,

Simply Adorable....

Introducing...

SIMPLY ANYA!

I couldn't resist creating a little sneak peek today for an upcoming project I'll be featuring on the TGF blog and Helmar Blog....

so today....here's a little sneak :

For more about SIMPLY ANYA, head over to the TGF Blog today to find out how you can WIN this new cutie who debuts on the Farm January 1st!  Also debuting today?

Our FOURTH and final TGF PREMIERE Farmer...Maria Therese Hatloy!

Please head over and give her a warm welcome!

Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas!

xoxo,

Someone new is CREEPIN' up on the Farm...

...and her name is CREEPER Madden!

I LOVE this new design from The Greeting Farm- I think she had me at her hair.  Love it!

Marie has an AMAZING January release planned at TGF and if you check out the TGF BLOG today you'll also see that we've welcomed the 3rd of 4 new "TGF Premiere" Farmers today, too!

Welcome to SIMONNE CLAY!

I ADORE her designs and was so happy she accepted our invitation!

Here is CC Madden:

Isn't she SUPER creepy-chic-cool?

Check out the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog today too for a FUN Friday "Spyday".

I had the BEST time yesterday with one of my favorite people in the world, Pam.  We had a blast!

The best part was getting the kids and hubbies together too- what a WONDERFUL way to kick off the Christmas festivities.  LOVE this lady!

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!

NOW Premiering at The Greeting Farm...

Hey, everyone!

If you're here for my Taylored Expressions Blog Hop post, please scroll down :)

If you're here for The Greeting Farm BLOG HOP, please scroll down 1 more post, thanks!

I'm here today with some AWESOME news at The Greeting Farm!

Not only are we premiering ONE of SIX new stamp releases for January, we are also revealing TWO new DESIGN TEAM MEMBERS over on the TGF Blog, so please help me welcome 

CORINNA McGREGOR

and 

WENDY RAMLAKHAN to the

TGF Family!

I couldn't resist making a card using the new MISS ANYA GARLAND set either, so here she is:

How cute are her braids?  I just love the new hairstyles that Marie comes up with!

That's just ONE of the sneak peeks I have coming up in the next 10 days or so, so stay with me for lots more fun on the Farm...for now, please head over to welcome the two new team members and stay tuned for more team members to be revealed soon!

I'll be back in a few hours with a FUN Key Ingredients Blog HOP post from Taylored Expressions- and I'm also over on the UNITY Blog today...thanks for stopping by during my busy, busy week!

xoxo,

TGF's 3rd annual Holiday BLOG HOP!...

Hello and WELCOME to The Greeting Farm's 3rd annual Customer BLOG HOP!

I'm so excited about this year's hop...we have a HUGE list of hoppers and TONS of inspiration today, so be sure to START on the TGF BLOG!

We are ending another FABULOUS year on the Farm, and tomorrow marks some NEW excitement beginning with the reveal of the 1st  of SIX January previews and the reveal of TWO of our four new TGF Premiere Farmers!  There is LOTS going on... but for now, I'll get to why you came here with a fun HOLIDAY ANYA card for today's hop:

I cut out the sentiment from the Crate Paper "Peppermint" DP I was working with and tied it all up with a Jenni Bowlin button.  I love the sentiment- "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good night!"  

I am SO looking forward to Christmas this year.   I'm so excited to celebrate the many, many gifts in my life with my favorite people...my family.  My cousin is home from his 2nd year-long deployment and we are all excited to celebrate that too!   What are you celebrating this Christmas?  I'd love to hear!

Be sure to go back to the TGF BLOG now too because I believe I'm the last stop today!   Thanks so much everyone for your awesome support of TGF this year and Merry Christmas from all of us on the Farm- hope you have a GREAT time and that you'll join us in some chatter on our SCS Forum today, too!  The hop goes from 10am CST to 10pm CST- enjoy!

xoxo, 

Taggin' it on Throwback Thursday...

Hey, everyone!

I'm back with another fun post for The Greeting Farm today.  Thanks so much for scrolling down to be here :)

Today we have a fun "Throwback Thursday" post on The Greeting Farm blog and we are all using older holiday sets to bring you fresh, fun ideas today.

I also wasn't able to make anything for this month's "Retro Fresh" challenge which debuted yesterday either and that was to create a tag-themed project, so I combined the two ideas and here's what I came up with using Cheeky Christmas set:

These tags would be super fun to make for all my gifts this year- I may have to make a few more as time allows ;)   Do you guys make a lot of your own gift tags?

• Peggy Toole- December Guest
• Becca Fabozzi
• Carisa Zglobicki
• Denice Bartucci
• Kim Yu
• Tracey Pickersgill
• 
  

Be sure to stop by the  TGF blog today for the rest of the deets on how you can WIN a set today, and for now, be sure to visit:

Thanks so much for stopping by!
xoxo,

Look Mom....NO Embellishments???

Oh, Joni, my dear team mate..if I didn't love you so much....   LOL!

Happy Monday, folks!

Today is just another "Monday FUN-day" on the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog and our sweet Joni all but killed us with a NO EMBELLISHMENTS challenge.  Ok, Ok, I'm TOTALLY exaggerating...it actually wasn't that bad!

I took the chance to pull out my Helmar Liquid SCRAPDOTS and decide just how valuable a tool they are especially for an occasion such as this ;) ...but you can visit the HELMAR Design Team blog for more details on that too!   

I have to say if not for these handy dandy Liquid Scrapdots, it might have taken the wind right out of little Miss Flutter Anya's wings!   Be sure to visit Helmar to check out all of their awesome adhesive products and for now,  be sure to say hi to the Farm Fresh Challenge team, too:

• April Davis
• Joni Wilson
• Lisa Gobea
• Margie Cortina-Team Captain
• Sharette Smith
• 
  

Thanks for stopping by!

RCC 31: Gettin' colorful on the Farm...

Hi, everyone!

I'm back with another fun RIBBON CAROUSEL challenge today!

The fabulous Stephanie Muzzulin is challenging you to Color our World!  Neutrals can always be used, but be sure to keep with Stephanie’s palette of Kraft, Red and Brown as your inspiration.  I threw in a little neutral blue and some fun DP just for fun and attempted to keep it clean w/ the HUGE red glittery star but ended up w/ a little bit all over myself as well, LOL!

This week we are honored to have The Greeting Farm back as our sponsor!

The Greeting Farm will be giving one lucky random winner a choice of 4x6 rubber stamp set or one of their fabulous new clear acrylic stamp sets!

 

I used the ever-so- awesome "Ebony" and in continuing with my Breaking Dawn spirit, she sure does remind me of Alice and her little "Twinkling' personality :)

I used some satin ribbon and cinched it up using Helmar 450 Quick- Dry....GOOD stuff....

...and that's it for me...know why?  Cuz you are gonna FLIP when you see how my AWESOME DT friends out did themselves this week using TGF images!  I'm SO excited and proud to be a part of this team!

Talk to you all soon! Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,

Twilight Thursday on Thanksgiving Day!

Hey, everyone!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have so, so very much to be grateful for, I don't know where to start...but all I can say is that I look forward to today for soooooo many reasons.  Every day, really, for those same reasons..most of all, the family that I have...and the fact that they understand the TRUE meaning of family, unconditional love, and that they are able to embrace how very special all of the above really is  <3

So....while we will all be busy with food, family, and feasting today, we also have a little bit of fun for you today over on The Greeting Farm Blog!

We are doing a special "TWILIGHT THURSDAY" mini-Blog-hop and with the celebration of Breaking Dawn's release and the big vampire/human nuptials taking place...we have some inspiration for you!

Here's my card:

My card reminds me of Rosalie Cullen.  I used her because I think she came the furthest throughout the story line, beginning with Twilight (the 1st book and into Breaking Dawn (the 4th and last).  She always had issues with Bella, perhaps some personal and some concerning her family, but in the end she recognized the TRUE MEANING OF FAMILY  when she set her differences aside, even while maintaining her spunky personality, but really did the right thing in the end and rallied around her brother and his wife and well...that's a beautiful thing ;)

I thought the movie really personified all that and really loved the character that was portrayed in Breaking Dawn.  And..yeah...I saw it!  Of course I did, I went opening day!

In fact, here is a picture of me and my BFF Pammy getting ready for our 4-movie marathon, ending with the midnight premiere of Breaking Dawn this past Thursday:

LOVE this lady...she always has my back and we have the best laughs!  Oh- and see our cute slouchy beanie hats?  She makes them!  You've gotta check out her blog and see all the cute stuff she has for sale!

...and don't forget to head back to the TGF BLOG to leave a comment and enter to WIN one of the two "I do" stamp sets up for grabs this weekend to celebrate the Breaking Dawn movie :)

Well, last but not least, I'd like to just take a minute to tell you all how grateful I am for the friendships forged and what wonderful support we all are to each other here in blog land.  I know I haven't had much time these past few weeks to come by and I really hope to relax this weekend...but it definitely needs to be said that I think this community is pretty darn awesome :)  Love and hugs to you and yours...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!