***BLOG CANDY*** Just send a postcard!

****BLOG CANDY****

Well, it is no surprise how much I LOVE UNITY STAMPS!  And, I know a lot of my followers do too.

So, I will offer a Unity Stamp Co. set (just got a huge shipment today) from my collection...NEW, never used, to a random participant.

Unity Stamp Company

Crafty BLENDS..."MOUNT UP"... Please consider helping a dear sweet teacher of mine whose granddaughter is needing postcards from different regions of the USA
for a school project. It would mean the world to me and would be so amazing to help her out.  AND the class with the most postcards gets a PRIZE!!!

Plus . . . 

I will offer ****BLOG CANDY**** 

to one lucky person who joins in and sends her one. I will be coordinating with Karen A Beck (a former teacher from Middle School that I am still quite fond of even after all these years. I ♥ you Mrs. Beck) and make sure that those who participate get put in my lucky drawing. 

Please leave me a comment on this post to let me know you want to join the fun and have sent yours 
to the address below!

this is the address to send your postcard to

• • 
    

    Karen A Beck Thank so much, Jessica!
    

    
    

    
    
  • 
    

    Jessica Shelton Happy to help out. Is there a way that you could keep me posted if she gets any cards from my crafty friends? That way I can offer up some fun crafty blog candy to one random winner who helped out?

Please consider joining in the fun and be a part of making the day for this special little girl. 

We can all make some awesome cards, layouts, and altered items, but this one is quite simple and a bit different from the norm we are all used to.  Just a Postcard!!! 

I think I am even going to use my Pink by Design Postcard stamp for this. YAY!!!

How cool would it be to see her face when all the POSTCARDS start trickling in from my crafty friends from all over the USA?

Keep Crafting 

:O) 

Jessica

Grabbing Rainbows

Isn't it fullfilling when you finish a project 

and your hands look

like you were grabbing rainbows?

Tonight was just that....

I played with some distress ink, embossing powder, alcohol inks, and reinkers.  I used some stamps (Unity stamps, of course . . . I have been playing favorites lately, sorry...LOL), cleared some old scraps and cutouts that were laying around, and I finished an ATC.  

 I was inspired by Diana over at DL Art to play with my scraps and make an ATC for  her Thankful Thursday Challenge (3/15-3/31).  The current challenge over at Made Especially for You is to use Distress Ink.  I have been on a bit of an inking frenzy...LOL.   The #147 challenge at C.R.A.F.T. - Handmade flowers, prompted me to make some more handmade flowers from the itty bitty slivers/slices of paper scraps.  I just rolled them up and glued them on using Zip Dry.  I will also be entering the Creative Craft Challenge - Anything but a Card.

Oh, what a night...do ~ do ~do ~do ~do ~do ~do ~do ~do ~do ~...Oh, what a Night!!!!

Stamps used were from 

Rockin' It Unity Style (KOM 3/10)

for the sentiment

 {lucky to have you} (KOM 2/12)

for the raindrop background 

(heat embossed using Manganese Blue Archival Ink Reinker and Antique Linen 

TH Distress Ink)

{HEART and SOUL} (KOM 1/12)

for the bird and number border along right side

Keep Crafting 

:O) 

Jessica

LOVE this Sketch over at Chick Challenges

Wow, did I have LOADS of fun playing today.

I simply adored the sketch over at Chick Challenges and am so so so happy to have found time

to play with it.  It really did CHALLENGE me to try this fold though.  All worth it in the end.

I grabbed some of my Unity Stamps, my Cherry Truffle paper by QQ, and started playing.

I knew I wanted to work on a masculine card since I don't do many of those types of projects.

I hope you enjoy my creation and gladly welcome any 

comments you may want to leave.

I DO LOVE TO READ COMMENTS!

 

Supplies:

Base card stock - taupe textured cs

Majority of dp is by Quick Quotes - Cherry Truffle

Twine by The Twinery (Buttercream, Charcoal, and Cappuccino)

Ink and Embossing powders - Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo and Antique Linen)

Some brown Studio G was used to distress edges

Paper Piecing - flag banner, circle clasp for twine, and tag/pocket inside)

Some black embossing powder was also used

Swirls inside were created using scraps left from trimming

All stamps are by Unity Stamp Co. 

Feb 2012 KOM {lucky to have you}  

and 

March 2012 KOM {from head to soul}

Challenges:

Unity Stamp Co. - Doors and Windows

Made Especially for You - Distressed Ink

Simon Says Stamp and Show - A Tag

The Crafter's Cafe - ME032612 AG

Ribbon Carousel - RCC46 AG

Paper Playtime - #70 For The Guys

Divas by Design - #27 Distressing

  The Paper Shelter - Paper Piecing

Chick Challenge #23

Keep Crafting 

:O) 

Jessica

Coloring Book Mini Album for the Birthday Girl

Today at the Creative Scrapbooking Divas Mansion, I am sharing a birthday gift I made for sweet Ariana who will be turning 4 on April 3rd.  She is always peeking around the corner when I am browsing through all of my digi images.  Her soft, sweet, little voice always asks "can you make me a picture to color mommy?"

This gave me an idea . . . why not make her very own coloring book with some of the

girly images she loves so much.

I am happy to link up to the following challenges with this gift:

Queen of my Craftroom: Mini Album
The Outlawz - PAM032412 - Add a Bow (the bigger the better)

Simon Says - BINGO (flowers. lace, ribbon/twine)

I started with Medium Chipboard and printed out 8 images

from various artists:

Meljen Designs

Whoopsi Daisy

The Paper Shelter

Crafty Sentiments

and

Beary Dust Stamps

I printed 4 images to one page, leaving the images to measure 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 after being cut.  This gave me the opportunity to cut my chipboard a bit larger so that the coloring pages fit inside comfortably.  I adhered the tops of the images together using Tacky Glue.

I used a hole punch to cut 5 holes across the top of the front and back covers to be able to feed ribbon through later.   I also made a tent to house the stack of images.  I adhered this using wood glue.  The clothespins are always handy when gluing something together.  They keep it taunt and you can set it up off of the surface you are working on so that it can dry. 

I then covered the  chipboard with some dp I received from my Blend 

Cindy at cre8ivecindy.  I really liked the cream color for the front and the flower print for the back. 

After picking out some coordinating embellishments and a fun stamp by Unity Stamp Co., it was all coming together beautifully.

The pink sticker has a cute little sentiment that I felt was fitting for my sweetheart daughter.  

It says, "i just love you plain and simple".  This left room for me to add

some alphas to place her name in the center.

This tag and the red flower next to it are from a set called

Lickety Splits by Imaginisce.  I stacked a few old buttons in the center of the flower.

Then I added a punched butterfly given to me by my BFF, Teresa. 

By the way, Teresa is the New Blog on the Block 

and can be found at skybluepink creations.  Pop over and say hello.  

I tied some other ribbons from my stash to the top for added flair, and put the coloring pages inside.

I got the pink lace out of my stash and pleated it along the bottom and then added a satin olive green bow to offset all the pastel colors.  

It is all complete.

I am super excited to give this to her on her birthday!

Thanks for stopping by the Craft Shaque and for visiting the Mansion!

Keep Crafting

:O)
Jessica

OSAAT #106 - Anything Goes

Hello to all of my crafty Blends!  

It is with great pleasure and honor that I get to announce the new challenge
over at One Stitch At A Time.

This week's challenge theme is to ANYTHING GOES

Head on over to the OSAAT Challenge blog and get in on the fun.

But before you go...peek at this.

For this challenge, I was offered the opportunity to play 

with the gorgeous Berry image by  Sue @ Beary Dust Stamps

You can find all of the images you see on the DT cards at Stitchy Bear Stamps. 

I also was inspired by a few challenges while making my card:
Simon Says - BINGO
 (charms, diecuts/punches, ribbon/twine)
Card for Relay for Life @ Scrappin with Chriss and Lou
Flutter By Wednesday - #195 - Open
The Outlawz Color Challenge - CC032012

PROJECT INGREDIENTS

Pink, Black, Gray, and White CS by Recollections
DP (unknown manuf.)

Flowers by Recollections
Markers used by Sugar Loaf
Twine by doodlebug designs
Charm and bling from stash
Sentiment by Unity - the TIME is NOW

Thanks for stopping by!!!!

Keep Crafting

:O)
Jessica

Thanks a Bunch using Unity Stamps

 Well, I had a productive 2 hours of crafty time tonight.  Lance got all of the kids

ready and took them to visit his Mom for a few hours.  I had the whole house to myself.

I was able to play with my Unity Stamps and you know

how HAPPY that makes me.

So I grabbed some paper scraps, My Unity Stamps,

and some Kraft paper and got started.

I embossed a few of the panels using my tree folder and my argyle folder.  I added some bronze stickles to the bicycle and the center of the flower.  I added a sun charm, to add some charm...he he he, to the entire project.  I love how it synced with the rest of the elements.  The pink flower is by Recollections.  All ink was TH Vintage Photo and heat embossed with the same tone of embossing powder.  The blue panel was punched using my new (deeply discounted) EK success edge punch.
The purple butterfly was created by my BFF Teresa, who by the way, can now be found at her blog ***YIPPEE**** skybluepink creations!!!
She embossed the purple butterfly a while ago using the Unity stamps mentioned below and left a few of the finished cutie pies for me to use in the future.
Teresa created her first blog post on Thursday and a little birdie (he he he) told me that she is preparing her second post this evening.  Yay!!!  Can you tell I am excited.
Please stop by and show her some loving support.  She really is quite talented and
her creations are amazing!!!!

I used Kraft as my base and for my mounting cs.  I used the following stamp sets to 

ink up the Tree, Bicycle, Birds, circular sentiment tag, and Butterfly:

the TIME is NOW

and

Dutch Mustard Soup by jillibean soup

I am diligently creating cards to help out my sweet friend Chris.  She is hosting a is a Card Challenge  at her blog: Scrappin' with Chriss and Lou to raise funds for Relay for Life

and

she is very generously donating a fabulous prize to one lucky participant

Please consider joining in to contribute!

I also participated in the Cricut Creative Cutter Room DT Thursday Hop and Challenge ~ Let's Hop Strolling through the Park.  It was fun to play

the "scavenger hunt" while getting some awesome inspiration

from the fabulous ladies on the CCCR Design Team.  The Hop had some hidden

elements that you needed to find along the way in order to play

along in the challenge.  Go HOP now and find out how

you can play along!!!

The current Get Hippity with Ippity Challenge #17 - Things With Wings

and the Crafter's Cafe - Monday things with Wings challenge inspired me to use the the birds and butterfly on my card.  Spring is truly my favorite season to wait for because of the magical

things that happen in nature during this time. 

It never ceases to amaze

me how a joyful bud of a flower or a crisp clean breeze can

invigorate the senses and make you feel so happy inside.  I love to Welcome Spring

and with this card, I feel that I have accomplished that.   I will enter my project into the Twisted Thursday - Spring Colors challenge at the Outlawz,
DL Art - Thankful Thursday - Happy Spring (show some flowers), and

Celebrate the Occasion - #55 Welcome Spring Challenge

The fun spring elements of my card also fits into the 

Penny Black and More - Springtime Challenge this month.

I wanted to use Kraft on my card and play along with this week's Make It Monday - AG Challenge at The Kraft Journal

I was inspired by this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #233

I am so happy to have you stopping by today
and I really
love all of your sweet
comments.
Until next time . . . .

Keep Crafting

:O) 

Jessica

i enjoy your company

What a delightful feeling it is to finish a card in a fair amount of time, knowing that I used up some scraps, got to ink up one of my new Itty Bitty stamps by Unity, finished a card for a good cause, and can enter a few challenges, too.

Ahhhhh!

Fabulous Day!

The Itty Bitty I used on this card is called enjoy your company

and can be purchased HERE

Because my card is made up of entire bits and scraps and I used some old buttons (trying to make space to justify buying some new ones....LOL),  I am entering 

into the Tuesday Throwdown #90 - Spring Cleaning  challenge.

I used Cappuccino twine by the Twinery, you can find it HERE, behind my sentiment and to tie a bow on one button.  I am entering the Ribbon Carousel RCC45 - Baking with the  Twinery.

I used 3 buttons to enter my card in the current

Made Especially for You Challenge

"The Good Cause" is a Card Challenge that Chriss of Scrappin' with Chriss and Lou is hosting to raise funds for Relay for Life

and

she is very generously donating a fabulous prize to one lucky participant

Please consider joining in to contribute!

My friend Chris at Get Inspired with ChatterScene has just began a new biweekly challenge at her blog called Just Elements

It is necessary for these challenges that you CANNOT USE any diecutting machines.
I know, I know, it will be hard for all of us Cricut lovers, but really, what a great way to dwindle down those scraps and be a little more GREEN!
 

I also used the sketch from

Chick Challenges {with Ippity} #22

HERE IS THE CARD!!!

NOW, be sure to peek about

so you are sure you didn't miss

any IMPORTANT

announcements or fun projects!

As always,

Keep Crafting 

:O) 

Jessica

Fantastic New Site and an Extra Special Giveaway - Don't Miss This!!!!

Hi Crafty Blends!!!

Today I am sharing  a post from a while back

that showcases

some of my creations

using 

my ever loved

Yellow - Cricut!

Why the recap you may ask....????

Well, I stumbled upon a fabulous

site today

jam packed full of inspiration

and ideas

and tons

of opportunities

to view 

excellent tutorials.

So I am spreading the news with all of you.

Oh, and even more exciting.....to celebrate National Craft Month (March 2012)

Homeketeers is hosting a fabulous Giving Away

with some really 

fantastic prizes....

Head 

over 

to get in on the fun and enter to win

Here are a few of the past

crafts I am sharing

with Links to the original 

Posts for all the details . . . . 

Vase full of Spring Time Flowers

(original post)

&

SMILE banner to be sent to the kids at Pediatric Specialty Care in PA

(original post)

and as I would 

love to share even more Cricut projects

I am having some difficulty

with Blogger right now.

I keep getting a message telling

me I have to purchase

more memory space

because I have exceeded my limit (really???)

Please feel free to scroll around and peek about my blog

to see more Cricut creations

at your leisure!

Keep Crafting 

:O)

Jessica

Makin' It To The Mailbox Monday #14 (MITTMM)

Please be sure to scroll down for more posts that you may have missed!!!!

 Welcome to the 14th week of  

Makin' it to the Mailbox Mondays!

I started this installment series to showcase the generosity that floods our Crafty Blogging Community.  So many times we receive a very generous prize from a dear friend and this is where we can shout out "THANK YOU" to those who really deserved it.

You are the people behind the

Magic of Making My Day!!!

I want to take this opportunity to shout a huge

 

 to all of you who have shown me your kindness and  your generosity.

Every week (if time allows and if it applies), on Monday I will be posting a new installment of  
Makin' it to the Mailbox Mondays,
where I will give a proper shout out to the generosity I have experienced first hand each and every week!  I hope you will take the opportunity to visit all of the wonderful and talented bloggers that I mention each week, to see their beautiful creations. 

Those of you who know me, know I wouldn't steer you in the wrong direction. 

There is so much to see and all of these fine ARTISTS are just a click away!!!

******************************************

First up, I would like to offer a sincere THANK YOU to All of the great Ippity Chicks and Peeps at Unity Opportunity Challenge Blog.  I love their stamps, and try diligently to enter their challenges regularly.  There is so much inspiration at their blogs and wonderful stamps to make creating easy and fun all at the same time!!!

I was happy to be selected as the Random Winner for the Ippity CAS Challenge and got
to pick 2 wonderful Itty Bitty stamps to add to my collection.

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all the Ippity Chicks who keep us inspired at the Ippity Challenges!!!

Here are the funny Itty Bitty stamps I chose . . . 

****************************************** 

"Bee" Better Together

You can order it HERE

and

fabulous girl

You can order it HERE

******************************************

For the next shout out, I say THANK YOU to the wonderful group at Neat Things Boutique.  They were hosting a wonderful giveaway and I was fortunate to be chosen as the winner of a set of fabulous Inkadinkado Stamps

 THANK YOU Neat Things Boutique
******************************************

Floral Flourishes

******************************************

It is with great pleasure, that I get to shout THANK YOU to all the wonderful people at  The Paper Shelter Challenge Blog and Shop.  I have been following this blog and shop for quite some time, hoping to get my little paws on some of their adorable images.

I was so happy when I saw my name listed as the winner for Challenge #52-Add a Sentiment and couldn't wait to shop for 3 images at the store.

THANK YOU Paper Shelter!!!

Here are the darling images I chose to receive. . .
******************************************

Little Red Riding Hood

 You can purchase this cutie HERE

Sharing a Rainy Day

You can purchase this adorable digi HERE

and 

Quiet Moment

You can purchase it HERE
******************************************

Have you had the opportunity to view some of the fabulous images at Fresh Brewed Designs, yet?  If not, head there now and show Heather and the fabulous DT some love.
They had a Release Blog Hop in February with some darling images.  I was excited to be chosen as a winner at DT Sheryl's blog @  Ink and Lace with Sheryl.

THANK YOU Fresh Brewed Designs and Sheryl ! ! ! !
****************************************** 
Here is the fabulous prize I won . . .

****************************************** 
I ALSO WANT TO SHOUT OUT . . . 
FBD is celebrating their new March Release with a blog Hop that ends today. 
So head over to the FBD Blog now and Hop Along.

****************************************** 

My last sincere THANK YOU  this week goes out to the wonderful Whimsy Stamps Team.  I always enjoy hopping during their new releases.  Their stamps are TREMENDOUS and the team always has beautiful creations to be seen.  During their last Whimsy Release Hop in February, I was chosen as a winner from the Hop.

I gladly chose to have the prize delivered to my BFF since her first stamp purchase ever, was a Whimsy Stamp called Wee Snippet.  She texted me to let me know when her new prize arrived and it was the adorable stamp pictured below.

THANK YOU SO MUCH Whimsy Stamps (this comes from Teresa, my BFF, too)!

******************************************

Gus the Bunny by artist, Crissy Armstrong

You can ORDER GUS HERE

 ****************************************** 

I hope that if I have inadvertently left anyone out of this gracious THANK YOU, that you all know you are all included in my thoughts, past and present.  Please, if you wish for me to do a shout out to you in a future Makin' it to the Mailbox Monday, don't hesitate to remind me of a prize you sent my way, and I will do my best to give you the credit you so rightfully deserve!!!

Also, if you would like to show off your own winnings, just title your post Makin' it to the Mailbox Monday and if I am your follower, I will gladly stop by to read it once I see it at my dashboard.  Or, if you'd like, you can leave a link with your comment below.  I would love to see the happiness that greets others in their Monday Mailboxes :O)

DON'T FORGET TO:

Happy Crafting and Until Next Time

:O)

Jessica