Hop to Stop + MHKDesigns

Hi, friends!  I feel so honored to let you know that MHKDesigns is sponsoring the Hop to Stop this month!  One lucky winner will be chosen to win three stamp sets and three paper packs from the MHKDesigns store!  You'll receive the products below, plus one set and one paper pack of your choice!

So, what is this hop all about?  October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this hop is designed to raise awareness about domestic violence, an issue that impacts 1 in 4 women, and the resources that are available to assist victims of domestic violence. 

This hop will go until the 14th of the month, and winners will be announced on the 17th. Any type of papercraft/mixed media art project is welcome, as long as it *features* the color purple (domestic violence awareness color).

For more information about domestic violence, its impacts, and available resources, visit the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. 

I made two creations for this hop.  They use products that I'm offering as prizes.  My first creation is a card using the Rainbow of Ribbons stamp set, Rainbow of Ribbons paper pack, Positively Purple paper pack, and Butterfly Wisdom stamp set.  Check it out...

I used the purple ribbon paper and image as my focal panel, then added one of the butterflies from the Butterfly Wisdom set as an embellishment.  Some rhinestones were added for shine and finish.

The sentiment is from the Rainbow of Ribbons set.  I punched and layered it, then added a row of liquid pearls to anchor it.

The card base was gussied up with some Positively Purple paper, a doily, some ribbon, rhinestones, and liquid pearls.  All purples and white, of course!

The next project is an art journal page that I decided to frame.  It will be given as a gift. :)  It uses the Butterfly Wisdom set.  Take a peek...

I used the collage image from the set and watercolored the images.  I added washi tape around it and in the middle, then added a fussy cut sentiment.  Some glitter and liquid pearls were added as accents.

I really love how these projects both turned out.  I hope you do, too!  Please leave me a comment below to let me know your thoughts!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

I will also be giving away these four specially made products to one person who comments here on my post...for every 20 comments! That's right, the more comments, the more chances to win!  Tell your friends! :)

Thank you so much for stopping by, friends!  I hope you take some time in the next few days to make something and link up with the Hop to Stop!  Some of my gals are also sharing samples with these products, so check out their blogs, too!

Here are the links~

Asha | Donna | Judy | Ruza

That's all for me today.  I'll be back soon with other crafty pursuits!  Until then, HUGS and happy {digital} stamping! :)

Project supplies:

Butterfly Wisdom | MHKDesigns

Rainbow of Ribbons | MHKDesigns

Rainbow of Ribbons Papers | MHKDesigns

Positively Purple Papers | MHKDesigns

Something completely different...

Okay, I'm done with all the cute cards for today and now I have an artsy fartsy journal page to show you!  This is currently part of my Valentine's Day decorations in my living room! :)

Here's the page~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Fashionable Stamping: Build It Up

(Use three or more stamps)

Sugar Creek Hollow: Love & Adore

Fussy & Fancy: Be My Valentine

I've used texture stamps by Bo Bunny, glitter by Darice, enamel dots by My Mind's Eye, kraft paper by The Paper Studio, a doily from my stash, a sentiment stamp from an unknown company, and all other supplies are from Stampin' Up! (including those printed paper elements).

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!  I hope you like my creation and that you join in the fun with these fabulous challenges!  HUGS and happy journaling to you all! :)

Junk Journaling!

Hi, friends!  I've joined my friend, Clare from Miscanthus Crafts, in a journey on junk journaling for 2014!  I've got my first page to share with you...I'll tell you the "junk" I used after you see the final product. :)

Here's the page~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Chocolate, Coffee & Cards: New Beginnings

Totally Paper Crafts: New Beginnings

Your Next Stamp: Photo Inspiration

Junk used: cardboard from a dinner box, black and gold packaging from canvas strip, old gold tissue paper, scrap papers.

I LOVE the way this turned out!  Now to figure out what to do with it???  Hmmm...any suggestions?

I used this quote because it's part of my resolutions for this year.  I'm going to try to love more, talk unkindly less, and share the love that I feel from God with those around me!  I'm also doing an interesting money saving thing that I might share with you later...but that's a totally different post. ;)

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!  I hope you've been inspired to take a peek today and to try something NEW!  I also hope you'll consider joining in the fun of JUNK JOURNALING!  You can email Clare for more info. ;)

That's all for me tonight!  I'll be back sometime in the near future with another page for your viewing pleasure!  HUGS and happy stamping to you all! :)

The Absolute Blessing of Today

Hi again!  I'm back with my second art journal page that is on display in a frame on a ledge in my house for Thanksgiving!  Wow...that was a long sentence.  Anyway, take a peek!

Here's the creation~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes

It's All About the Vintage: Use at least 3 stamps

Baffies Creative Shop: Autumnal Works

Decorate to Celebrate: Thanksgiving & Fall

Frilly & Funkie: Thanksgiving

I've used glitter by Darice, stamps by Bo Bunny, Technique Tuesday, and Kaiser Kraft, liquid pearls by Ranger, a doily by Wilton, specialty paper by American Crafts, glimmer mist by Tattered Angels, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  Thanks for all your sweet comments and I hope you join the fun with these great challenges! HUGS and thankful stamping, friends!

Art journaling!!!

Okay, so those of you who know me know that I LOVE learning new things--especially about crafting.  And so I'm always super excited when the lovely Clare from Miscanthus Crafts does a new art journaling video!!! And this time she even let me know about it--THANK YOU, Clare! :)  Of course I watched it immediately and then made a page!  You can check out the fabulous video tutorial HERE.  I hope you do!

Here's my page~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

From Cardmaking to Art Journaling: Lesson 6

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Stamping All-Stars

Word Art Wednesday: Anything Inspirational Goes

So, I could tell you the process I went through to create this, but Clare has already done so in her video.  The only things different between her sample and mine are that I used a circle punch and that I used butterflies and a few more embellies on my page.  I like the shine. :)

Supplies I used: 1" circle, small butterfly and large butterfly punches (SU!), oil pastels, random dollar letter stamp sets (LOVE these for art journaling--thanks for the tip on those, Clare!), my absolute FAVORITE texture stamp set by Bo Bunny, sequins, liquid pearls by Ranger, glitter glue by Studio G, black Stazon ink, clear embossing powder & embossing gun.

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my creation!  I do believe that I will be giving this away as a present to a dear friend I've been thinking of lately.  What will you create?!  I hope you check out Clare's video and these other challenges and link up with me!  HUGS and happy stamping friends!

I cannot believe life sometimes...

I just can't believe life sometimes!  I've been feeling like I've got NO time and yet I was able to stamp today!!!  AND my house is 1/2 way to being completely organized!!!  Our recycle bin and trash bin are almost full and we could have a fabulous garage sale.  It's fabulous!

Also, I received a freebie stamp from Stamper's Best with an order I placed a while back and I didn't know what to do with it...it is a stamp of Abraham Lincoln.  Well, much to my surprise, as I was going through a bunch of old sets to see which to sell, I found one that had a Lincoln quote in it!!!  HOORAY!  PLUS, I just got an amazing texture stamp set today that I wanted to play with, too!  So I did. ;)

Here's what I made with my stamps~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Fashionable Stamping: Clean & Simple

The Male Room: Anything Goes

Live & Love Crafts: Warm OR Cool Colors

(I chose warm.)

I've used a stamped image by Stamper's Best, texture stamps by Bo Bunny, glitter by Studio G, rhinestones from my stash, and all other supplies used are by Stampin' Up!.

Thanks so much for stopping by to look at my creation!  This is going to be framed and given as a gift to my brother who just got his first "grown up" job and has moved out on his own!  I hope you join in the fun at these fabulous challenges!  HUGS and happy stamping!

My newest favorite digi and thoughts about true beauty...

***WARNING: VERY VERBOSE AND PHOTOGRAPH HEAVY.***

Yes.  That was quite a long title, wasn't it?  I couldn't truncate it and so there you have it.  Also, this will be quite a long post.  I LOVE my creation and couldn't resist showing some details! :)  I've been really loving this new freebie from A Day For Daisies and so when Clare at Miscanthus Crafts challenged us to use a digital image on our art journal page this time around, I knew I'd have to use it!!!

Here's what I came up with~

Details~

For these fabulous challenges~

Card Making to Art Journaling: Lesson 5

Simon Says Stamp & Show: Anything Goes

Polkadoodles: Create Your Own Background

Nutcrafters: Texture

Created With Love: For the Girls

A Day For Daisies: Stress It

I've used texture stamps by Kaiser Kraft (yes, Clare--I used it!), patterned paper by Recollections, paints from my stash (I believe they are all from Folk Art), butterfly rhinestones by Studio G, glitter glue from Studio 112, a beautiful digi by A Day For Daisies, chunky glitter, ink, and paper by Stampin' Up!.  The sentiment was generated by me on the computer!

I started by filling in parts of the digi with shades of black and grey using a photo editing program.  I then created my sentiment and printed these elements out.  To create the background, I started by covering my paper with the green metallic paint then layering on a lighter then darker purple.  I went a bit too overboard with the purples so I sponged some of the metallic green over that.  After it all dried, I stamped 3 different patterns with the stamps--one in dark green, one in lighter green, and one in purple.  I then added my image, sentiment, and torn paper corner.  I wanted to add more texture so I added the glitter glue and for even MORE texture, I added chunky clear glitter to the earring and chunky green glitter to the hat.  I also added rhinestones.  I LOVE this page!  Another one to frame and put up in the house! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by to look at my project!  I hope you've been inspired to join in with these fabulous challenges and I hope that you take the time to look at all of Clare's fabulous art journaling videos!  HUGS and happy crafting friends!