Hello friendly Friends!
I'm finally back from vacation and settling back into things. I spent a full evening on the couch last night recuperating from auntie-overload. I only get to see my niece and nephews rarely, since they live 5 hours away and I gotta get as many hugs, kisses, and secret candy behind the backs of their parents in while I can.
But onto the serious business of crafting! This week over at Crafty Gals Corner, we are having a challenge to use either buttons or bows in your creations.
I'm a big ribbon-lover, myself, although I always seem to forget to use it! A big ol' bow just adds so much to the design.
I worked with a great digital sentiment called Happiness Sunbeam from Eureka Stamps. It reads:
"Happiness is a sunbeam... When it strikes a kindred heart, like the converged lights upon a mirror, it reflects itself with redoubled brightness. It is not perfected until it is shared."
I am a person who always looks at the proverbial glass and sees the rainbow reflected in the water and never considers the fullness at all. Sure, there are days that can be gloomy, but I am overwhelmed by the sheer propensity of kindness that is found right in front of my nose - if only I look for it.
So when I read this sentiment, it sort of just stuck there with me. I knew I wanted to make it bright and cheerful, hence the sunbeams (which are stenciled from a Wendy Vecchi for Stampers Anonymous "Sunburst" stencil).
I also stamped this vintagey looking pensive lady from the Passion for Art Set because she seemed to match the sentiment really well. I added a die cut frame and a big ol' gold glittery bow and...
Ta Daaa!
So add a little bow, or glue a little button and link it up to Crafty Gals Corner for your chance to win an awesome prize of three free digital images from Eureka Stamps!
I'm also sending this card over to:
Make Art Challenge Blog - Stencils
Simon Says Stamp Monday - B is for... Bow!
Fashionable Stamping - Springtime
Cupcake Inspirations - Sparkle (that gold sparkly ribbon does the trick, I think!)
A couple of things before I leave: Many of you asked about the inflatable robotic R2D2 and so I am happy to report I have a video for you!
They sure had fun and so did I!! Hope it left you with a smile!
Also - I have the winner of my blog candy for the coffee lover's blog hop! There were so many comments and I want to say a big thank you to everyone who made me grin with your kindness - The winner is....
#91 - Lynn Hardy! Congrats, Lynn! I'll be emailing you shortly for your address.
What gets me more jazzed than than the first sip of hazelnut vanilla coffee on a 30 below, frigid North Dakota winter morning?! ...Well, nothing, actually.
Point in case? This photo taken at the local IHOP:
A giant cuppa with extra whipped cream - I don't get much happier!
BUT what gets me allllllmost as jazzed is the internet sensation known as the Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.
And it's back! The brainchild of the one-woman wonder and organizational mastermind, Amy Tsurata, the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop brings together caffeine-craving paper crafters from around the blogosphere in a one-week frenzy of goodness. The hop starts today - so go whip up your card and join in!
Amy told us that our creations should be Spring themed. Now, there's lots of ways to interpret Spring... In North Dakota, Spring is equated with gooey mud. Everywhere. And a groundhog who ALWAYS sees his shadow. Sigh* Since I didn't think that would be so cute on a card, I decided to go with option B - which is something really bright and cheerful. Hey - a girl can dream.
I started by hand drawing a Coffee chalkboard-esque sign, using these new markers I just got called Chalk Magic.
After experimenting, I found that these markers give some of the best coverage that I've gotten from a chalk marker/white marker thus far. I bought them because the white markers I have tend to get clogged up and leave weird blotches in places. These had a very smooth flow. They were created by a family-owned company for use in crafty projects and are meant to be erasable on non-porous surfaces. Since I was using it on card stock, however, they stayed just dandily (I don't care if it's not a word, spellcheck, I like it.) I have to say that I wish the nibs were a little smaller, for detail work, but overall I was impressed.
Next, I stamped a mug from Two Paper Divas "You Warm My Heart" stamp set. Since I won the set in the Christmas blog hop, I thought it would be only fair to show it off here. It's such a cute set and it's the exact type of coffee I like to drink - with lots of whipped cream!
I added some amazingly bright paper and Voila!! A card!
I'm going to support the following awesome challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Work it Wednesday - Spring
The Challenge - Thanks for the great sketch!
I won't keep you for too much longer, other than to say that you should totally go play along at the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop because they have over 20 sponsors and you can win lots and lots of cool things. Be sure to hop along and leave encouraging comments, too, because there are a lot of people who will be offering up some blog candy.
Like me!!
I've got a pretty sweet prize package consisting of a Wendy Vecchi stencil, a chevron embossing folder, some metal feather embellishments, and a Prima sketchy word stamp.
If you'd like to win it, leave me a comment and >>>>include your email<<<<. You don't have to be a follower of my blog to win, but you'll get an extra entry if you are! :) Plus, I'm pretty cool (and humble) and will probably come give you a follow back.
Happy hopping, my friends! May your sips be long and may your brew be strong!
