***announcement: BE SURE TO MARK YOU CALENDARS****

Good Morning to all my wonderful BLENDS!

OK, where do I start.....
Many of you who follow my blog probably have noticed me talk a lot about the CSDivas.  You may have seen some of my work that I submit for challenges and I am sure you have heard the praises I give to all of the members.  Well, I am beyond excited to announce they are moving to blogger in less than a week!!!!  The Admin Divas are working so very hard to create the blog page and all the elements to go live in several days.  They are planning a blog hop for July 9th and there will be weekly challenges from each DT member who has a specific group they are in charge of.  Oh Yeah,  I WAS CHOSEN AS A DESIGN TEAM MEMBER!!!!  This will be my first ever DT position and I am thrilled to not let the Divas down.  I will be heading up the group: Home Decor and Gifts and will be in charge of challenges, tips, and tutorials on that theme. The Divas have been a stronghold in my crafting "world" as of late and I have made such wonderful connections with so many of the existing members.  I couldn't think of a better group of ladies to participate with during my first term as a DT!!!


WHAT IS Creative Scrapbooking Divas?
A place for Divas to inspire, create and enjoy the process!

Here is the message they sent out to their existing ning site members to announce the move!

Good evening Divas,

We have some news to share with you today:

After long thinking Admin Divas have decided to move CSDivas to Blogger!!!
Starting July 3rd, all our activity will be in the new CSDivas Blog.
Ning site will be closed as of July 19.
New CSDivas Blog link will be shared with all of you next week, as we are setting things up now.
We will have the same themes (as our Groups here) in the CSDivas blog!

Please don't panic, we will continue to have great challenges, tips, ideas and tons of inspiration as well as blog hops and prizes! Actually we will have weekly RAKS now...

What you should do now:

We recommend that you save ideas, tutorials, resources links, etc that you like before ning site closes. After 7/19 we won't have access to this site.
Save your pictures if you have not done it yet.
Make sure to become our follower in the new CSDivas Blog and to subcribe to receive our updates, via RSS.

Admin Divas and Design Team Divas are so excited and working hard to set up our new CSDivas Blog ready for July 3rd!!!
Should you have any question or concern, we are creating the discussion: CSDIVAS MOVING TO BLOGGER to address them properly. Here is the link:

Address your concerns about the Move To Blogger

Wishing you the best,

Admin Divas and Design Team

SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!!!!  

JOIN IN ON THE FUN AND KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT WHEN THE BLOG GOES LIVE.  

BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE BLOG AND FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY!!!

Shine On! (post #2 today)

Ok, so this is my 2nd post for the day.  I received my set of K Andrew Stamps today Splashtastic Summer and just COULD NOT WAIT to put them to good use.  They were so fun to play around with and I got another card finished this early evening!  WOO HOO!  I told you before, and I say it again.....THREE CHEERS FOR THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!!!!  I am very patriotic and I love my country.  I love that this week was jam-packed full of festive challenges to celebrate your patriotism! 

RECIPE:
Gray Card Stock (base)
Star sticker strip (top) by Creative Imaginations
Red square die cuts
Blue square die cut
Star cut out from Graphically Speaking at several sizes on Icon and Icon Blackout
Polka dot stripes achieved by using Red Studio G ink on clear stamp set by inque boutique
Masking on blue square with white Studio G ink (used the scrap cuts from star cuts)
Shine on! is from K Andrew Stamps (Splashtastic Summer)
Faux stitching on red squares using White Gel Pen

More Than Favors - Wacky Wednesday #43 - Red White and Blue
Penny's Paper Crafty #56 - Red White and Blue
Stamp Something - Red White and Blue
Scrappy Mom's - Stand and Salute
Craft Your Passion - Seeing Red #64
Paper Playtime - #49 Red White and Blue
FCCB - #66 Happy 4th - Red White and Blue
Sentimental Sundays - #61 - Use the colors of your nation's flag
Cupcake Inspirations #117

Indulge in the Cheerful Journey

I am back to crafting and creating.  I was a bit out of sorts the last few days.  Just trying to reorganize my craft room/laundry room/office (LOL).  All is well now and my supplies have become magically more convenient to use.  I completed a LO today for several challenges and combined them for wonderful inspiration.  I am very, very pleased with this one because I was able to have free reign on a lot of the elements.  I followed a sketch for Paper Secrets June Sketch Challenge;  The same sketch was being used at Paper Patch Crafts for the Summer Fun LO challenge; I followed BoBunny's LO challenge to use an advertisement to inspire our creativity and used several BoBunny papers (back to backs "U Bug Me! Arrows & Stars; Star Struck Dashed; Pep Rally Stripe) which were all part of the giveaway prize I won at Doris's blog a while back;  The colors were chosen from the magazine ad with a focus on showing off some RED for the Seeing Red challenge at Craft Your Passion; I was able to create my own backing paper using a cloud cut from the Serenade Cartridge and using the masking technique with my blue Studio G ink.  I then swiped a small brush stroke of Studio G gray and one of white around each cloud on my background.  The rolling hills and grass at the bottom of the page were created by gently using curve strokes with my distressing tool and my green Studio G ink.  By creating my own backing, I completed another challenge...YIPPEEE!!!  This will be my 3rd entry for this challenge at Creative Craft Challenge (I guess I must have found a favorite technique . . . LOL).  I used a tag for the Sentiment (Cheerful) by MME. The balloon was cut from my Graphically Speaking cartridge (originally a circle globe that I transformed into a balloon with a bit of hand cutting and coloring and embroidery thread).  I am entering this LO at Getting Scrappy-challenge-11 Getting Punchy.   The circular flower sentiment (Journey) behind the tag and paper flower is from a stash of goodies I received from Angela Davis at Creative Creations for winning her blog candy giveaway!  The photo matte rectangle was cut at 3" X 4" and the 2 rectangles behind the photo matte were cut as close as possible to follow the sketch.  This technique allowed me to enter my LO into the 1-2-3 Recipe Challenge at C.R.A.F.T..  I colored some blades of grass with my Whispers Strokes Dual tip Markers on the grass, hand drew some rough lines around the green rectangle in the center, and added journaling lines.  The same penned lines were written on the smaller green rectangle in the upper corner, too.  For this, I will be entering my LO in the Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Penned challenge.






Now for the pics.....

Here's the sketch I used (by Page Maps)

Here is the magazine advertisement I used from an issue of Marie Claire (sorry if it is a bit risque, it's a bra ad...LOL)

Here is my LO

 Here are the LO and the advertisement side by side

As always, thank you so much for stopping by to view my creation!  I look forward to your comments and getting to see your latest and greatest creations!!!!  Until then, Ta Ta!

Summer Love

All these fun summertime colors bring a smile to my face.  I love all the cheeriness this card has.  The center image is by Stampin' Dragon Designs titled Summer Fun.  Sentiment image is by Raindrop Echo Designs titled Summer Love (Sentimental Sunday freebie).  Yellow star print, sun ray, card stock is from the DCWV: All About Boys stack.  Large polka dot pattern paper is from stash.  Smaller striped dots paper is by BoBunny Star Struck Dashed.  Bling and Pearls are fom my stash, too.  Inked all the edges using Studio G ink.  Image colored using Whispers Strokes Dual Tip Markers.

Challenges entered:

Bearly Mine:  Summer is Here

Stampin with the Dragon: Summer Fun and a sketch

The Paper Variety:  It's Summer

Wags N Whiskers: Summertime creations

Scrappin' Chics Challenges:  Sun & Inspirational saying
My Craft Spot: Seeing Stars
This is also being submitted to the Scrappy Gifts Online Crop:  Friday Challenge 

Holiday Greetings (Christmas in June)

Good Sunday Morning to all of you this fine day!

Linda is having a super fun challenge over at her blog: Lindascreativy.  It ends VERY SOON, so hurry hurry!!!  It is a Christmas in June challenge.  I was so eager to do this challenge the first day, then life grabbed me and I didn't get around to finishing it until just now.  It was soooooooo super fun.  I got to use a set of snowflake stickers that I had purchased many, many years ago and had begun to think I would never use them.  HaHaHa.  So, THANKS Linda for helping me use up some of my stash!!!  I also got to play with my stamps, glitter, and glossy accents (first time using that), too.

I stumbled upon another great challenge blog while in the midst of creating this card.  It is called I Did It Creations Challenge Blog.  The DT work is stunning and the theme this week is also Mid Year Christmas.  And even better yet, the challenge blog is sponsored by none other than Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More, Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps, and Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium.

This project will also be used as an entry at Scrappy Gifts Online Crop June 2011 for the Thursday challenge.

The Card Stock is actually white, but as you may already know, I have all energy efficient light bulbs in my house, which always leaves a yellow hue to my pictures when I don't use the flash (:OP).  So I will also add this picture (below) that doesn't show all the elements as clearly, but the color is more accurate.  If my daughter were still awake, I would have her take the pics.  She is my "go to" photographer all the other times!  LOL

The card is A2 size white card stock
StudioG ink pads in navy blue, pine green, white and dark gray
The snowflake layers were cut with Graphically Speaking at 3" (several dp in shades of blue, green, lavender and plum)
Snowflake stickers Miss Elizabeth's ($ Tree)
Flowers, netting, pearls, bling, stamens, brads and flocked leaf from stash
Holiday Greetings rubber stamp by Scrappy Cat
Stamped image (Christmas & Snowflakes design) behind the snowflake layers is also by Scrappy Cat
The corsage pin in the upper right hand corner was hand made by one of my sisters a few weekends ago
Glossy accents and Darice Glitter
Charm in center of green flower is by Darice

I thank you so much for stopping by and love reading each and every comment that you send to me!  Hope you have a wonderful Sunday and God Bless You all!

Two Pink Peas: Great Blog & Candy

I was pleasantly surprised this morning by a very touching blog post.  I visited Terri at Two Pink Peas and was captivated by her touching words in her post.  I was astounded by her generosity and sometimes you can learn a lot about a person from one single blog post.  This post let me know that Terri is 1 - Real, just like you and me; 2 - having some emotional highs & lows, we've all been there; 3 - addicted to paper crafting, admit it now ladies :O); and 4 - finding support in the blogging community, don't we all gain happiness and support from visiting our Blends?  So, for these reason, please visit Terri, read a few of her posts, then, after you have done that, peek in on her candy up for grabs.  It is a fantastic prize to be won, so generous!

My first tag and I used it in a card! YAY!!!

Wonderful Friday to all of you, my BLENDS!  Hope this finds you doing well and enjoying your day!

My first tag is finished and wow, that was fun.  I am sure I will be making a lot more now.  I kinda knew it would be fun, but had no idea that it would be this fulfilling.  I was inspired by a challenge over at More Than Favors.  Patti is hosting a Wacky Wednesday Challenge #42 - Tags.   You should join in on the fun!

Here's my tag:

Recipe:

Ribbon: from stash

Leaves: cut from Gingerbread cart (Holly leaves)

imagine: clear stamp by Scrappy Cat

Tag sentiment from Whimsy Stamps (Raindrop Echo Designs)

Darice and Studio G ink

Rustic star accent from LCS

Kraft Texture CS by wausau Papers

Orange dp (swirls, stripes) by K&Company

Orange Swiss Dot by core'dinations (Stacy Julian)

I was able to implement this tag into a card for a few other challenges, too.

Recipe:

Kraft Texture CS by wausau Papers

Safari kids Papers by DCWV

(all other ingredients listed above)

Challenges entered:
Two Scraptastic Gals: Cricut Chaos Challenge #22
More Than Favors: Wacky Wednesday Challenge #42
Die Cuttin' Divas: #20 Christmas Theme Cut for a Non-Christmas Card
SP Color Combos: #105 Celery, Pumpkin, Crumb Cake
C.R.A.F.T Challenge #108: 3-2-1 Recipe
Blog-o-doodle: Masculine without flowers

Cricut 360º Challenge Blog Launching July 1st

Some of you may already know my friend Patty aka Creative Diva.  You can grab her blinkie while you are there, too.  Or just grab it off of my sidebar!  She is wonderfully talented crafter and a DT Member for Cricut 360º .  They are getting ready to launch their 1st challenge on July 1st. Won't you take a brief moment to spread the word???  They are trying to reach all corners of the globe with their challenge blog. 
What's the incentive you ask?
   ~  The DT members are full of exceptional talent
   ~  You can gain wonderful inspiration
   ~  Make new connections with others
   ~  It's a challenge blog: nuff said, right?!?
  And as if that weren't enough in itself...
   ~  They are also having a Cricut Cartridge Giveaway!!!

About Cricut 360º

Cricut 360º is a challenge blog for crafty people all over the world who love using the Cricut die cut machine by Provo Craft to make cards and to scrapbook. Every week, starting July 1st, we will have challenges using the Cricut. Challenge will be posted every Friday, and you will have until Wednesday at midnight to add your creation.

CRICUT 360º - Cartridge Giveaway

Is getting closer!!!, the launch of Cricut 360º challenge blog is just a week away and you do not want to miss the challenges what we have planned. In the meantime, we want to reach 360º around the world but to make it happen we need your help spreading the word about our challenge blog. So! How about a cartridge giveaway? In order to qualify for the cartridge giveaway you must:

1. Blog about Cricut 360º and link that post here with in-links so we can see it.

2. Become a follower of Cricut 360º.
3. Subscribe by e-mail.
4. Leave a comment in this post.

5. Copy and paste the blinkie in your blog.
6. Join our Facebook Group.

7. Follow the designers. [Optional, but we will love to see you in our personal blogs too]

Here is the cartridge and we will announce the winner on Thursday June 30. Please come back to check if you have been to be the lucky winner.

I am heading over to follow the blog, the FB group, and marking my calendar to participate in the 1st challenge ever!!!!
Wont' You?

Thanks for stopping by

and

Happy Crafting!

Smilez,

Jessica

Link Up Love Party with K Andrew & Link up with MIMM

Are you looking for a way to gain inspiration???  Are you looking for a way to make new friends???  Are you looking for a way to show off your FABULOUS WORK???  Well, one great way to do all of those things is to join in on the Link Up the Love Party with Kristal and all of her wonderful DT and followers. Not only are her posts wonderful, her Design Team members are spot on with responding to all your projects so quickly.  It's truly a great pick me up!!!!  Plus, all of her followers are some of the most amazing, compassionate, lovely people I have met in my short 6 months of blogging.  It is a great way to gain followers, too.  And who doesn't love to gain followers???  LOL   :O)

Posted at Getting Cricky with K Andrew....

Link Up Love Party: How it Works

*Link Up Party runs from Tuesday 6/21 to Tuesday 6/28. Winners announced 6/29
*Grab Kristal's blinkie and post on your blog's sidebar
*Be a follower of Getting Cricky with K Andrew blog
*Create a new blog post that is titled Link Up Love Party with K Andrew. In your post, you must mention that the link up love party is a way to get to know each other and find new blog inspiration, mention my blog, with a link back to my blog .
*Post your favorite project that you've done in your blog post WITH ONE thing you are grateful for!
*Copy and paste the link up code into your blog post so the Inlinkz will show up on your blog
*Spread the word so everyone can join in!
*You must visit, follow, and comment on the 5 people before you AND the 5 people after you in the Inlinkz. It would be fantastic if you would visit as many as you can--maybe everyone? If you are one of the first 5 then you will need to blog the ones before you and a few more after--as long as it's a minimum of 10 near you in the link up tool/gadget)
If you do not do the above your link will be deleted, because it's just not fair to those who work so hard linking up and showing love to the ones on the list. I have two moderators who will be checking this out to keep it awesome and fun!

Link Up Party: Giveaway! A FULL year subscription to the best scrappy magazine out there: Creating Keepsakes for TWO lucky followers who Link up and play correctly. Winner will be announced June 29'th so make sure you come back to see if you won!!!! Remember, if you dont' claim your prize within ONE week, it goes back in to the pot!


For my project, I decided to work on a 4th of July layout to have ready for pictures of the kids playing with their sparklers.  One thing I am truly grateful for is that God has blessed me with a wonderful family.  My soon to be hubby and my children mean the world to me.  There are days that I probably would just stay in bed and sulk if I didn't have them rooting me on!!!  They are my rocks and I am always watching them in amazement.  I am thankful for my extended family, too.  I am also thankful for all of the wonderful blends I have found during my short stint as a blogger.  Now, appropriately, as the Fourth of July etches its way towards us, I am quite grateful for my freedom and in the same respect grateful for the Men and Woman who brave the frontlines, behind the scenes, here and abroad, to fight for yours and my freedom!!!

Other Link Ups:



Challenges entered:
Creative Craft Challenge: Make your Own Backing papers (entry #2)
Bearly Mine Challenge #13 - Summer is Here (entry #2)
Cricut Cardz Challenge #80: American Flag
Whimsical Wednesdays #12 - Patriotic
The Paper Variety: It's Summer!!!
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenges: #56 - Red White & Blue

I used a paper from the DCWV pack as the background, but put a piece of card stock (white, with cut out stars, then inked with blue) on top to give it an overlay look.  I always think of summer when I think of the 4th of July.  Picnics, trips to the beach, fireworks near the lakefront, and lots of American Flags hanging from porch bannisters.  I always enjoy making patriotic themed projects, which you see often in my finished creations.

God Bless the USA!


Now that you have made it through my long winded speech, *HERE* for the Getting Cricky Link Up and
*HERE* for You Had Me at Craft MIMM Week 5 

Got Kids?

Yesterday marked the first day of Summer.  What is a better way to celebrate than getting some Vanilla Ice Cream and Root Beer and making a yummy frosty treat for the family?  Ummm....I can't think of one.  LOL.

Well the family enjoyed and did so rather quickly, but little Haylee didn't get a float for herself.  I sat by her and fed her small spoonfuls of ice cream and let her slurp the root beer from my spoon.  She was in awe.  SHE LOVED IT.  She was giggling and leaning towards me as if she was saying, "gimme more, gimme more".  Kenzie grabbed the camera and snapped some adorable pics.  I just knew that these would be the pictures I would use to complete the LO/sketch challenge for this weeks' Scrap Your A** Off challenge.  I also knew I wanted to make it a summery layout so I looked to a few other ongoing challenges to get more inspiration. 

Challenges entered:
Paper Secrets: Scrap Your A** Off - Week 6 Sketch
Fantabulous Cricut (FCCB): Summer Sun #65
Paper Crafting World:  Use Red, Yellow, & Orange
My Craft Spot: How Sweet It Is
Celebrate the Occasion:  #19 Summer with a Sun
Anything Goes - #43 Here Comes Summer
Creative Craft Challenge - Make your Own Backing Paper
Gimme A Break: #20 Summer
All Sorts Challenges: Week 108   3-2-1
Scrappy Moms Terrific Tuesday: Sweet Treats

Link Ups:




INVENTORY:
got kids? and Sun cut from Graphically Speaking @ 3"
Sweet Summer and date stamp are Rubons by BoBunny
Mulitple papers by K&Company
Card Stock by Darice
Vellum
*laugh clear stamp by inque boutique
'splash" rubons by Royal & Langnickel Brush Mfg.
Ribbons, tags, brad and flower from stash
Studio G chalks ink (red, orange, and yellow)
Studio G glitter glue (red)
Ice Cream Shoppe stickers by Darice

Thanks for stopping by

and

Happy Crafting!

Smilez,

Jessica

Made it to the Post Office to ship all the goodies!!!

Well, I just got back from a very easy trip to the Post Office.  I had anticipated it was going to take a lot longer, and cost a lot more.  To my surprise, the Postal Worker was very kind and offered a gentle smile despite my arms being full and having to use my rear end to open the doors....LOL!  6 packages to all corners of the globe and it cost well under $30.00!!!  Woo Hoo!!!
So, just wanted to let all the recipients of goodies know your packages are on their ways!!!

Jennifer (Sissyfer) - Your card should arrive in 3 days
Judi (My June RAK partner) - Your RAK will be there in 3-5 days
David (my dd's Dad) - Happy Father's Day to you in 2 days  :( so sorry its late
Sherrie K (Blog Candy Winner) - Your Blog Candy will arrive in about 5 days
Dr. Sonia SV - they estimated it would take about 10 days to get your goodies
Kassidy (Inking It Up Crazy with Kassidy) - The Troops' cards will be there by the end of the week I hope!

Online Crop June 23-June28 with Scrappy Gifts

Are you one of the crafty peoples that loves to participate in Online Crops?  Do you like making new blog friends?  Well, if that is something you would like to do this week, come join Maryanne and a lot of other fine ladies over at Scrappy Gifts Online Crop!  It begins on Thursday, June 23 and will run through until Tuesday, June 28!!!


Maryanne happens to be the first person I had the pleasure of becoming blog friends with. Who knew that one invitation through Etsy, could lead to a wonderful friendship with her.  I have participated in her Online Crops over the last several months and have had so much fun!

Maryanne, you are wonderful.  While you are stopping by to sign up for the Online Crop, be sure to drop by Maryanne's wonderful store and take a peek at some of her wonderful creations.


  
I happen to have one of her clocks and I love it.  She tailored it to match my JCS logo and it hangs in my craft room still!!!  She also makes some other wonderful items, that are a MUST SEE!!!

Be sure to stop by the Roll Call message board on Blog Frog to sign in to participate.

Hope to see you there, and if you are new to the site, please let Maryanne know that Jessica sent you!!!

:O)
Jessica

Thanks for stopping by

and

Happy Crafting!

Smilez,

Jessica