World Record INSPIRATIONAL Unity BLOG HOP!

From The Paper Freak

Welcome to the Unity World Record BLOG HOP! If you didn't start from the beginning, click the Inspirational Blog Hop graphic above to start at the Unity blog! You should have arrived here from Rona's blog, and doesn't she have a great project today?!?!?! I hope you're havin' fun!

Today, I'm sharing with you a card featuring a stamp from Unity's current Kit of the Month, Simple Life. I created my own patterned paper with a flower stamp. The focal image was colored with ZIG ColorTwin markers.

supplies ~ image: Unity (Simple Life set), cardstock: stash, flower stamp: Scrappy Cat "Sunny Days" set, brads: Making Memories


Last, but not least, we were all asked to share our favorite quote. Mine (currently, 'cuz inspiration doesn't sleep) is from Nelson Mandela:

"There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires."



So true, and ample reason to live in the moment and really LIVE it while you're in it! I would love it if you left me a comment!

Your next hop is to the uber talented Linda over at i created this! Happy Hopping!

My first Unity Hip HOP Hangover

Have you been to the Unity website? If you've never been there, you should! There are lots of gorgeous stamps to choose from, and I've become an addict! Every Thursday they have a design team blog hop, then Friday they have ANOTHER hop featuring customers' work. Cool, huh?

Today is my first time do a HHH (Hip HOP Hangover)...so go easy on me, okay? =D



This card features a stamp from their March kit of the month. I decided to do a little paper piecing for the flower center and colored the flower petals & leaf with Yasutomo pearlescent watercolors. The second picture really captured the sparkle!

I've entered this card in a couple of challenges, too: The Pink Elephant (sketch) and Paper Garden Projects (theme: thank you).

Remember that TOMORROW is the big Unity World Record Inspirational Blog Hop with over 200 blogs for a gigantic blog hop. Get yerself a cuppa Joe and prepare to be inspired starting at 11 am Central time! If you'd like more information, just click the blinkie in the upper left corner of my blog.





supplies ~ Cardstock: pink from stash, SU! Chocolate Chip, papers: Basic Grey Sulty, stamp: Unity kit Simple Life, ribbon: American Crafts, ink: Ranger

Best wishes from Gruffie

I am so pleased with this card. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but the finished product came out beautifully! I'm sorry the second photo came out yucky. I was having a hard time capturing the shimmer of the cake, so I decided to just go with the best shot; you can see how beautiful Shimmerz are! This card is for the Viva la Verve week 3 challenge.

I colored the Gruffie with Prismas & OMS, then went over the cake with Angel Wings Shimmerz. I matted it and the sentiment on Chocolate Chip (thanks to Heather for giving it to me in a blog candy!). The background papers are all Basic Grey Sultry, and I finished the card with some scrummy velvet ribbon.

Thanks for a moment to peek over here! I have some more challenges I want to try to finish this week, so I hope I'll have a card for you tomorrow.

Oh, I almost forgot! I have a blog candy still open here for a Whimsy stamp, and I have a PIF here still open. You just need to comment on the post to get a chance at winning!

Good night!


supplies ~ papers: Basic Grey Sultry, cardstock: SU! Chocolate Chip, focal image: Stampabilities Gruffies Cake Walk, sentiment: Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments, Shimmerz: Angel Wings, velvet ribbon: American Crafts Boutique Blush

A visitor!

Boy, do I have a treat for you today! We had a visitor who decided to meander over to our house and linger for a while. He started out across the road from us, sauntered onto our property, then had a little siesta next to one of the trees downhill & behind him in these pictures. Once he got up, he came right up to the house, but something spooked him because he jogged around our house and went uphill from where we live. I got several shots of him, but only a few were really good ones.



This moose is obviously a bull since he's sprouting antlers. If you look closely, you can see the velvet on his single antler. From what I understand, the velvet has lots of blood vessels & nerves in it and supplies the antlers with nutrients to grow. In about April or May, the antlers will be done growing and the velvet will dry up, causing it to fall off. One other tidbit, antlers are bone and shed every year. Horns, on the other hand, are bone with a keratin sheath (like your fingernails) and are never shed. Betcha didn't know that! If you'd like to know more, go here.

Have a wonderful day! I'll be back with a card (I hope) tomorrow. I have just one more to go to finish the March Viva La Verve challenge! Ta ta for now!

Faith That Will Move Mountains

The scripture on this card has always been one of my favorites, and when I saw it at Unity Stamp Company's store, I knew I would have to buy it. There's something very reassuring and simple about this verse. The faith it refers to is not faith that I can move mountains, because I can never do that. It is only God who can work the miracles in our lives, but all we need is the tiniest bit of faith for Him to do just that. When I feel that I cannot possibly accomplish something, I only need to believe that HE can, and it will be done.

I made this card for this week's CPS challenge. It's clean and simple. I stamped my own background paper using one of the stamps from Unity's Gratitude = Joy set with Ranger ink. The scripture, Unity's Move Mountains stamp, was stamped in the same ink and matted.

supplies ~ stamps: Unity, ink: Ranger vintage photo distress ink, cardstock: DCWV & from my stash

Thanks for stopping to look!

Back with "Delights"

I wasn't entirely happy with the previous "Hedge Delivery" folder I did for the Penny Black challenge this week, so I went back to try again. This was a springy feeling card, so I entered it in the Pink Elephant Easter Challenge, Stamp Something challenge and Crafty Goings On, too. I have to say I'm much happier with these results. Not only is blue my favorite color, but I took a cue from the sample on the challenge blog in picking out the papers and cardstock for this card. I gotta do that more often!

Thanks for coming by for a peek!


supplies ~ cardstock: Marth Steward, dsp: ProvoCraft Scrap Pad, dew drops: Robin's Nest

Hedge Delivery

I finally got a project done - whew! Between being gone for a week, getting sick the week after and trying to recover during Spring Break. I got absolutely no school work done, so I ended up staying up until 3 am Tuesday night so I could post my grades on Wednesday. I finally got to play in my craft room for the first time since I made my last card.

I love Penny Black images (especially those hedgehogs), so I decided to try this week's challenge to use a sketch. I wanted to keep it clean and simple (although the sketch was pretty CAS to begin with). I colored the hedgie with Prismas and OMS, used my nesties to cut the image and its mat, and stamped the cardstock with an Inkadinkado stamp. This isn't a card - it's a folder to hold papers, images, or whatever you wish. The black ribbon keeps it closed.

Thanks for stopping over to take a look!




supplies ~ cardstock: Martha Stewart, background stamp: Inkadinkado Circle and Dots, focal image: Penny Black Hedge Delivery, ribbon: JoAnn Craft Essentials

PIF (That's Pay It Forward)

Have you seen that movie? You should - it's a good one!

I've been fortunate enough to meet some very generous papercrafters since I started blogging. Many of them offer giveaways, challenges with a prize for one participant, and PIFs. PIFs are just giveaways with the expectation that you'll turn around and do the same for someone else. I have one PIF that I'll post in a few days, but below is one that I found just today.

I found this idea on the blog of one of my SBS 27 sisters, Shelley, while reading the blogs I follow. I've seen it before on other blogs, but too late to participate...until now!

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice! For you. Could be a card I really am pleased with, an altered object or something else all together! My choice! This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be made with you in mind so you won't get something I already made unless I think it suits you to a T.
3. It'll be done sometime this year (I will want to get it done in the next few months).
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. The catch? Oh, the catch is you must offer this blog candy on your blog!

Re-post this on your blog, offer something you make - your choice - to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog (then come here and post). Add my name to the #1 slot on your post - I am your first participant.

When you create your giveaway, you will become the first participant on the new list for the people who participate with you.

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment here telling me they did (I will go to your blog to check that you have this posted) win a handmade gift by me. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

SO ...................who will be the first 5 people????

1. Shelley http://stampin-shellz.blogspot.com.
2. Lori M. http://heavenhelped.blogspot.com/
3. Kelly http://kelleast.blogspot.com/
4. Heather http://heathersheavinlystampations.blogspot.com/
5.

Whew - what a whirlwind of giveaways!

What did you think of my 10 days of giveaways? Did you win one of them? You can click the links above to find out; I'll leave them up until all the prizes have been claimed.

Remember that my Day 3 Giveaway is still open - we haven't gotten to 150 yet!

I've only been blogging for about five months, but this was my third blog candy offer. Each one I have done has helped me improve the next one. This one was definitely a stretch for me, and I think this type of giveaway will be an exception rather than the rule (sorry, folks).

What I want to know from you is how you think I could have done it better. Was there anything you would have liked to see done differently? What kinds of giveaways would you like to see in the future? What did you like or not like about the giveaway? Come on, I'm a teacher used to giving and receiving constructive criticism, so don't hold back! Leave me a comment with your answer!

Spring Break Giveaway Day 10

ETA: This giveaway is closed.



Which makes the winner Valems, who said...

Hello! Gorgeous giveaway, thanks for a chnace to win. I prefer the second pac., because I like those colours more. What would I do with them? Make cards, of course, I would have an opportunity to use some real papers instead of downloads, we don't get designer papers here (Serbia). I don't know who should get the other pack, because I'm first to comment... Moni, if she leaves a comment.
I will post a link on my blog now (in the sidebar)
Have a graet day
Vanja

Congratulations, Vanja! So that means the other winner is Moni - Woohoo! Ladies, please email me with your mailing address so I can mail out your paper!

Did you win one of my giveaways? Click the links above to find out! Remember that the Day 3 giveaway will stay open until the 150th comment on that post. Spread the word, and let's bump up those numbers!

Today is my final day of giveaways, so I have an extra special treat for you! Not one, but TWO, giveaways - one for you and one for a friend of Basic Grey goodness!



That's right, I have a 6x6 pad each of BG Euphoria and Archaic! Euphoria is definitely all girl, and Archaic is all boy! I know I often find myself drawn to the girly stuff, but then I struggle to find the right paper for a male card. That's one of the reasons I like BG - they routinely put out papers that I can use on a male card.

Here's what you need to do: leave a comment saying which pad you prefer, what you plan to do with these papers should you be the lucky winner, and to whom I should send the other pad. Then go blog about my giveaway or email your friends and tell them to come and comment, too. Tell them to make sure to mention you in their comment and you BOTH win!

You have until 11:59 pm AKDT (-800 GMT) today, March 15 to get your comment posted. Only one comment per person. Since there are only two pads on offer, any entries that mention more than one other person will be deleted, as will duplicate entries.

Good luck!

Spring Break Giveaway Day 9

ETA: This giveaway is closed. Random.org chose #2, making Katarina the winner - congratulations! Email me with your mailing address so I can get your velvet brads out to you!

Did you win one of my giveaways? Click the links above to find out! Remember that the Day 3 giveaway will stay open until the 150th comment on that post. Spread the word, and let's bump up those numbers!

Not surprisingly, Thursday's comments leaned heavily toward Basic Grey papers. The two sides, heavier weight and fabulous designs leave little excuse to NOT like them. I just wish they weren't so expensive. I see sales from time to time, but the cheapest online price I've found is $5.50 for a 6x6 pad over at Sweet & Sassy Stamps shop. If you're a bit of a thrill seeker, eBay sometimes has good deals. Anyway, on to the REAL reason you came - I know ya'll are here for the candy! ;o)

Today's giveaway will have you all warm and fuzzy. They're Garden Party velvet brads from Making Memories! There are actually two different sizes (yeah, I thought my eyes were going bad, too). The larger brads are about 1.2 cm across, while the smaller ones are about 1 cm. With five different colors, you can do a whole lot with these cuties!

Today is the next to last giveaway (can I get an, "Awwww"). In order to win these little guys, you may need to do a little bargain hunting. If you read my second paragraph above, you know I'm a bargain hound. But I always wonder if there's a deal I missed somewhere. So in your comment today, tell us where you find rock-bottom prices for your crafting goods. Are there any websites you look to for promo codes, deal alerts or that consistently have low prices? What supplies do you find are dollar-stretching while delivering the wow-factor for your projects? Inquiring minds want to know, baby!

You have until 11:59 pm AKDT (-800 GMT) today, March 14 to submit your comment. One entry per person, please! Duplicate entries will be deleted.

Good luck!

Spring Break Giveaway Day 8

ETA: This giveaway is closed. Random.org chose the number 2, making Natasha the winner - congratulations! If you haven't already, please email me with your mailing address!

Did you win one of my giveaways? Click the links above to find out! Remember that the Day 3 giveaway will stay open until the 150th comment on that post. Spread the word, and let's bump up those numbers!

Today's giveaway is a way for you to preserve those precious memories without too much fuss. It's an Urban Rhapsody Mini Book Kit from K & Co.! In addition to the mini book included with the kit, there are stickers and mini papers for you to personalize your book. Turn it into a brag book with pics of kids/pets/grandkids, or maybe you want yours to be a place to jot notes, or keep track of important lifemarks...make it your own!

It's the weekend, so let's do another challenge to win this giveaway! My challenge to you is simple: FLOWERS! It is spring, after all, and I'm already planning my flower garden as soon as the snow melts (which will be in a few weeks, yet). So let's see your flowers on a card, layout, ATC, altered item...anything! Just gimme those flowers!

To give as many people as possible a chance to participate, I'm going to extend the deadline for this giveaway to 11:59 AKDT on Sunday (March 15). Use Mr. Linky below to share a direct link to the post showing off your work. One entry per person, please! Duplicate entries and entries with no direct link will be deleted.

Good luck!

Spring Break Giveaway Day 7

ETA: This giveaway is closed. Random.org chose (hold on to your hats, folks) #1 making Suzy the winner of the epoxy brads - congratulations! Email me with with your mailing address so I can get your lovelies out to you!

Did you win one of my giveaways? Click the links above to find out! Remember that the Day 3 giveaway will stay open until the 150th comment on that post. Spread the word, and let's bump up those numbers!

Thanks to all of you who entered yesterday's giveaway. I knew about PageMaps and CardMaps, but didn't know there was an archive of sketches on the web! There were also a couple of other websites suggested that I didn't know about. If you love sketches, too, go look at the comments from yesterday to get some inspiration!

For today's giveaway, you could win these gorgeous epoxy brads from Making Memories. Each brad is unique and coordinates with all of their {note}worthy products. But these beauties are versatile enough to use with lots of different products.

To win this giveaway, I'd like you to do two things: (1) blog about my giveaway &/or post a link on your blog, and (2) comment here telling me which paper company is your favorite & why. One entry per person, please!

Right now, I'd have to say my favorite is Basic Grey. I have only recently been introduced to their papers. Previously, Paper Pizzaz from Hot Off The Press was my favorite (partly because they have great papers, but also there's a little hometown pride involved since they're based in the town where I went to church growing up, just 10 miles from my hometown AND a family friend was a card designer for them for a while).


Enough nostalgic babble! To win this giveaway, link/post and comment here by 11:59 pm AKDT (-800 GMT) today, March 12.

Lastly, tomorrow's giveaway will be another challenge, but I'm extending the deadline to Sunday, the 15th. If you blog about my giveaway, mention the challenge with a link to my blog and I'll have a special surprise for you! ::wink, wink:: =D

Good luck!

Birthday wishes...with bling!

Today's card was FUN! I've had some jars of Shimmerz and a new stamp set sitting in my craft room waiting to be used, and I finally got to play with them! I used a sketch from i{heart}2stamp and a challenge from Flourishes to make the sentiment the focal point. I'm also trying out the Created by Courtney challenge for the first time; she wanted us to let nature inspire us. I guess flowers are part of nature, and all I can think about right now is SPRING! =D There's also a big birthday party bash going over at the Paper Garden Projects blog for week 2 and at Paper Craft Planet, so I've entered this card along with this one and this one, too.



The papers were from my scrap tray, but I think they are Paper Pizazz sarapapers over a DCWV cardstock base. I used stamps from my new Inkadinkado set, Chelsea Sentiments stamped in ColorBox Royal Blue ink.

Check out those flowers - aren't they stunning? I love what Shimmerz does for just about everything. I used two white Bazzill paper flowers and painted them with Shimmerz. The December Sky blingz was perfect for this card, but I didn't have pink. Never fear - ROY G. BIV is here! I mixed Royal Red with Angel Wings until I got the shade of pink I wanted. I probably could have gone lighter, but there's a bit of deep pink in the floral background paper that I was trying to pull out with the second flower. To finish off the flower, I popped in a bead cap and a brad.

supplies ~ cardstock: DCWV, dsp: Paper Pizazz (??), flowers: Bazzill, paint: Shimmerz, bead cap & brad: stash, sentiment: Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments set.

Thanks for stopping by to look!

Spring Break Giveaway Day 6

ETA: This giveaway is closed. Random.org chose the number 2, making bolha (Natasha) the winner. Email me with your mailing address to I can send your eyelets - congratulations!

Did you win one of my giveaways? Click the links above to find out! Today marks the half way point of my giveaways, but remember that the Day 3 giveaway will stay open until the 150th comment on that post. Spread the word, and let's bump up those numbers!

Today's giveaway is something every crafter needs to keep on hand in their stash - eyelets! I love to use them for all sorts of things, although I haven't used them much lately. These eyelets are from K & Co., and you get six different colors (I know the name on the package in the stock photo is not K & Co., but the package you'll get is exactly the same in every other respect) for a total of 300 pieces.

To win this giveaway, you have a very simple task. I love sketch challenges, but hate to hunt all over blogland for sketches when I'm just playing for myself. All I would like for you to do is comment on this post with a link to a blog, forum, message board or website (EXCEPT Splitcoast Stampers and Papercraft Planet, please - I already know about those!) that has an archive of sketches to browse. You may enter only once for this giveaway. You have until 11:59 pm AKDT (-800 GMT) today, March 11 to make your comment.

Good luck!