Thursday, March 31, 2011

Bling It On!

I love me some bling! The challenge at Paper Romance today is to bling up your cards: gems, pearls, glitter, anything that shimmers. I used Crystal Ice Glitter on my card today, and a couple of gems too.

These three are decked out in glittery finery for their outing today. Take a close-up look by clicking on the photo!
Check out what my fellow PR Design Team members created HERE.  Hope you will join us!


Other challenges for this card:
Charisma Cardz - bling and sparkles 
Craft Us Crazy - Easter/spring
Paper Crafting Journey - for the ladies in your life 
Pixie Dust Studio - fluttering wings

 
Card Recipe: Hat-itude and Gertie, Millie & Hattie by High Hopes (At Paper Romance) 
Paper: Only Orange, GP White, DP by The Paper Studio
Accessories: ruffled ribbon, gems, paper piercer, Spellbinders dies, Crystal Ice Glitter (Sparkle N Sprinkle)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

More Vintage Music - Totally Different!


Here is another beautiful vintage music set - this one from I Brake For Stamps called Music Collage Quarter Sheet. I stamped my images with Soft Suede Classic Dye Ink (Stampin' Up!) and also used it to sponge around the edges.  The music is from an old hymnal that I have for card-making.  I never have to sponge the edges -- it is that old!

The pearls are a lovely pale blue (Mark Richards) that offsets the paper beautifully. A little lace adds a nice vintage touch.  What do you think?


Thank you to Purplestamper for awarding me with this lovely Versatile Blogger award! I am supposed to tell seven things about myself, but since I just did that a few days ago with another award, you can read those here.  I am passing this along to:
*Mary G * Gloria * Ann* and *Leslie*
~some new blogs I have discovered while playing in the Hambo Hoedown! It's happening TODAY and you should dance right over there and see all the fun stuff going on! 

Challenges for this card:
The Kraft Journal - kraft/flowers 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It's Teapot Tuesday! Know You Can Fly!


Today's SCS Teapot Tuesday Challenge is one you really should check out.  I know that almost ALL of us have way more supplies than we need for the rest of our lives.  This sweet gal had a flood in her basement and lost all of her stamping supplies.  So -- the Teapotters are making her (Ashley) cards today that incorporate some ribbon, and several are also sending her either ribbon or other supplies that we do not need. Check out the complete post here.


My card today is made with word art by TLC Creations. Our teapot for inspiration is below.  It's PINK! Yay! What do you think?


Other challenges for this card:
Clear It Out - flowers.....
Tip Top Tuesday - nature inspired
House of Gilli - ribbons and pearls
Lexi's Creations - ribbon but no bows/knots
Paper Playtime - Anything goes (Digi)

Stamps: Digi sentiment by TLC Creations
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Prints DP by SU!, GP White
Ink: computer
Accessories: pearls, Prima flowers, Spellbinders square die, Cuttlebug EF, Bazzill Paper Edgers, pearl brad, slit punch, MS bird punch

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Vintage Music - I Love This!

I love this new music set Paulette has made over at TLC Creations. I got it this morning and had to make something as soon as I got home from church.  The set is called Music Speaks, and is perfect for me! I started piano lessons when I was 4, as my mom was a piano teacher, and I have been playing ever since! This is such a sweet vintage set and I love how it turned out. Take a look:

I hope you will click on the photo above so you can get a better close-up view! I am also excited that I used a recyclable on this card! (Is that a word?) I got some Prima flowers on my shopping trip and I used the card they came on for the pale yellow "half-layer" in the left corner.  The flowers on the card went so well with my new Sweet Fairy designer paper - also by Prima.  It had this nice cut out edge already, and I thought it was neat to reuse something.

Here is a picture of the whole set. Isn't it sweet? You can purchase it HERE for only $2.75!! WOW!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out Paulette's blog -- you won't be sorry and I know if you love digis, you will be there every day like I am!

Challenges for this card:
Allsorts - For a Special Lady (a birthday card for our church secretary)
Craft Your Days Away - Mom or Special Lady (see above)
Wee Memories - anything goes
Delicious Doodles - flowers

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Brighter Days and a Fun Announcement

This is a quick, cute little 4.25" square card I made for a friend who is going through some changes and rough times in her life.  I always think I have to make this "wow" card before I can send anything, and really, people just want to know you are thinking of them.

I wanted to use bright papers to go with the awesome word art from TLC Creations. This digi image was a freebie at Create With TLC -- if you haven't been to Paulette's blog, and you like digital art, you really need to make a visit. 
I am also excited to announce that Paulette has asked me to be part of her Design Team April-June! I am very excited, as I love her work. Next week I will show you some of the things I have been working on for the team.

Today I am off on a little shopping excursion and trip to the zoo (I like going when the weather is not so great - the animals are active and there are few people!) - just for me! Thanks for stopping by today!

Challenges for this card: 
SCS Inspiration Challenge - this necklace inspired me 
Fun With Shapes and More - die cut and no DP
Guylou's Inimitability - dots
Tellen's Place - texture
Aud Sentiments - Get Well


Stamps: Digi sentiment by TLC Creations
Paper: Summer Sun, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, GP White
Ink: computer
Accessories: Prima flower, Spellbinders die, Cuttlebug EF, EK Success border punch

Thursday, March 24, 2011

SNS NONTRADITIONAL MOTHER'S DAY BLOG HOP

Scroll down to see my Paper Romance Challenge Day card.  We are making Baby-themed Easel cards!


Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's Nontraditional Mother's Day Blog Hop! Today's hop begins at the SNS Blog, so if you haven't started at the beginning you will want to head over there now, so you don't miss out on the opportunity to win some great prizes!

If you arrived here from Erika's blog, you are in the right place!  The hop list order is also at the SNS Blog, so you can check back there if you get sidetracked or lost along the way.

Hopefully you have been enjoying the beautiful cards presented by my fellow Sparkle Team designers. Our Mother's Day inspired hop is nontraditional because we're displaying cards which honor special women in our lives, whether they are Moms or not. We hope you will enjoy these feminine cards, and perhaps create something special for the dear women who regularly and meaningfully touch your life. I have created these cards for two special friends that work with me at my school and are retiring this year.  I will miss them!


I have two projects to show you today. Both are made with one of my favorite SNS sets, Spring Backgrounds. It's even on sale this month! Be sure to take a peek at the whole set.  On each card I stamped my images using dye inks and then watercolored the flowers. On this first sample, I added Starfire Glitter to the whole flower. Isn't it pretty?

On my second sample, I wanted more of the color variation to show, so I added Starfire Glitter to just the flower centers. Click on any photo for a close-up view!

Both samples have rub-ons for the sentiments.  I have so many of those hoarded, I thought I had better start using some of them! Here is the full card of the second sample in my favorite color shades: PINK!

I hope that you have enjoyed my creations today! If you like what you see on my blog, become a Follower! There is much more to see yet, so head on over to my friend Julie's blog, where I know you will LOVE what she has to show you! She is so talented!

Be sure to leave a comment at every blog along the way, so you are eligible for the prizes! Thanks for stopping by today and I hope to see you again! 


Challenges for these cards:
The Paper Shelter - flower power
Simon Says Stamp - Mother's Day/girlie
Creative Cowgirls - monochromatic (second card)


Recipes:
Spring Backgrounds Stamp Set and Starfire Glitter by Sparkle N Sprinkle

Card 1: Pale Plum, Naturals White CS (Stampin' Up!); Zva Creative and Kaiser Pearls, lace trim, Designer Paper from my stash, Pale Plum and Kiwi Kiss dye ink (SU!)

Card 2: PTI White CS, Melon Mambo and Patterned Rose DP (SU!), Textured Pink (The Paper Studio); Melon Mambo dye ink (SU!); 1 1'4" circle punch, 1/2" square punch, Martha Stewart border punch, satin embossed ribbon, Pretties Kit (SU!); Spellbinders rectangles and scalloped rectangles Nestabilities, lace trim

It's Paper Romance Challenge Day!

Well glory be - I made my first easel card! I tend to be all "safe" and predictable and make standard A2 or square cards with one fold.  I am glad that Donna challenged us today to make easel cards so I could see how easy it is! I am sure most of you have made one; if not, trust me, they are easy and fun!

Anyway, the challenge over at Paper Romance today is Baby-themed easel cards. I didn't have any baby specific stamps, so looked at my designer paper and found these cute giraffes in K and Co. Baby Girl DP.  And then I made Stretch the Giraffe pink! (You know I love pink, right?)

I think it turned out ok, and I will definitely be making more easel cards! Head on over to the Paper Romance Challenge blog and play along! And while you are there, check out the other cutie pie cards that the Design Team made! Thanks for stopping by today!

Come back later this morning when I am participating in the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop celebrating special women in our lives!

Other challenges for this card:
KB Cute Monday - babies
Stamping Scrapping Central - pastels
Creative Inspirations - Easel cards
Scrapmaster's Paradise - color challenge

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Remember How I Said I Love Flavored Coffee?

Well, I also absolutely love this new digi image from Hambo Stamps called "Coffee Girl." Isn't she adorable?

Today's challenge over at the Hambo Hoedown is to use Coffee Girl and her sentiment, and to also use the sketch that Bacon Bits Design Team member Silke Kittmann made for us this week.

I altered the sketch slightly, by moving the circle and sentiment to the side. I also used the "regular sentiment" as my background paper by printing it repeatedly on my Basic Grey designer paper. I paper pieced the cup and then colored the middle with Copic markers to resemble the sleeve that keeps your java warm!

I embossed the back layer and the middle piece with two different Cuttlebug folders to also resemble the warming sleeve. There is a name for that, isn't there?  I just can't think of anything besides sleeve right now!

Here are the markers I used to color the cup and her dress:
Head on over to the Hoedown to see how you can play along, and get some free stuff too! And while you are there, check out what the rest of the Bacon Bits created today.  Super fun designs!  Thanks for stopping by today!


Other challenges for this card:
My Time To Craft - Ladies Day
Papertake Weekly - Mother's Day or just girly 
Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight - make your own designer papers (I used repeated words) 
Crafty Pad - use a digi
Card Ideas - chocolate, caramel + one other color (pinks)
Craft Your Days Away - Mom or a special lady (my coffee-loving friend!)
Crafty Emma - inspired by a song ("Java Jive")
Crafts and Me - anything goes


Card Recipe:
Basic Grey Bittersweet designer paper, Kraft, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Neenah Solar White 
Copic Markers, chipboard heart, grosgrain ribbon, large and small oval punches, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folders

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Joys Come From Simple and Natural Things

Today's post is a quick one! My daughter and husband are off on a backpack trip to Utah and I am painting the dining room as a surprise, and have to get to it before they get back!


My card today is such a serene scene.  It is a 4" x 4" stamp from I Brake For Stamps called Joy Comes From. I added some sparkle with my Spica Glitter pens to the sky and the water. I had to change the lighting a little so you could see it. Click on the photo below for a close-up!

I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with various Copic markers.  I kind of wanted a watercolor look, so I let the coloring bleed into other colors. Take a little shopping trip to I Brake For Stamps today and use this code for 10% off! SAVE10JUDY

A big thank you to Amber, for awarding me with her Inspiration Award! Thank you so much Amber! She has started a new challenge blog.  Check it out! 

 Off to paint! 

Challenges for this card:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes 
Stamping Vacation - Little House on the Prairie (scenery somewhere must have looked like this!)

Card Recipe: 
Stamp: Joy Comes From by I Brake For Stamps
Paper: Mellow Moss, Elegant Eggplant, Naturals White, Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Tim Holtz embossing folder, Studio 18 purple gems, RRR purple ric rac, Copic Markers, Spica Glitter pens, MS branch punch, EK Success Scalloped Border Embossing punch

Monday, March 21, 2011

Vintage Crochet

Today's Technique Challenge 317 at Splitcoast is to use newsprint on your creations.  I love that look - the only problem? We don't get the paper! So I had to do some digging and came up with one section - Agriculture - that my friend was featured in.  I was careful not to cut that part! :)


I used Vintage Crochet and Friend from Rubber Stamp Tapestry for my images. I love this Brenda Walton designer paper from K & Co. and chose my colors from that. The flowers are pretty and delicate and spring-inspired. I like how this turned out! What do you think?


Monique awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award awhile back, and I haven't had a chance to post about that. 
The conditions of accepting this award are:
*   mention 7 things about yourself,
*   forward this award onto some other lovely blogs (I think 15 was the original number; I have awarded eight)
*   link back to the person who awarded you the badge!
So seven things about me (a few common things and maybe a couple of not-so-common):
1. I love the zoo.  It is, besides Disneyland (which is harder for me to get to and more expensive ha!), my favorite place to go.  It calms me, it refreshes me, it makes me happy! ANY zoo where the animals are treated well and have a good place to live...  I happen to think that our zoo here in Nebraska (Henry Doorly) is one of the best in the country - and I have been to a LOT (in and out of the country)!

2. I collect giraffes (that is no news, probably!).  I have not ever counted how many I have, but it would be over a thousand, I am sure.  I have stuffed (my favorite kind), rubber stamps, purses, ceramic, glass, wood, cloth - you name it! Slippers, jewelry, even sheets and washcloths.  My family puts up with a lot....
One of the highlights of my zoo escapades was feeding the giraffes at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson.  It was so fun! I will post pictures tomorrow maybe!

3. I am a morning person. The only one in my family. I never need an alarm and usually am awake by 5:30 AM. I love to watch the sunrise.

4. I just recently developed a love for flavored coffee.  We got a Keurig system at Christmas and it hooked me! I drink about one cup every other day - it's not something I crave (yet!), but I love it with some good flavored cream.

5. I sang for the Pope at the Vatican when I was 15. Pope Paul VI. I am not Catholic. But it was an incredible day. One I will never forget.

6. And on that note, Italy is my favorite country that I have been to. I have traveled to Canada, Mexico, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily, Ireland, England, Wales. They are all amazing places. But Italy is still my favorite.  My friends, Deb and Gary, are flying there today for two weeks.  Jealous? Nah..... um.... yeah....

7. I have a really hard time resisting pure chocolate brownies. No frosting, no nuts, no powdered sugar.  Just the brownie. YUM. Gotta be soft though. I can give you my address if you would like to bake me some.  :)

Wow. Random stuff.  First things that popped into my head!  And now for my sharing of the award - to my Hambo Stamps Bacon Bits Design Team members.  They are such fun gals and each have a style of their own.


And to Monique, thank you so much! 
A quick little sentence to say my Party Elephant card won Top Three at Creative Inspirations Paint! Yay!

Have a great day, everyone!

Other challenges for this card:
Aly's Sunday Challenge - spring 
Card Cupids - spring inspired 
I Did It Creations - spring
Craft Your Passion - show appreciation 
Die Cut Dreams - Mother's Day or special friend 


 
Stamps: Vintage Crochet and Friend from Rubber Stamp Tapestry
Paper: Melon Mambo, River Rock, Naturals Ivory, Brenda Walton DP by K & Co., newspaper
Ink: Melon Mambo, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Tim Holtz Tattered Rose
Accessories: pearls, lace, slit punch, large oval punch, twine, Cuttlebug EF, distressing tool

Thursday, March 17, 2011

In The Elephant Mood!

Wow - two days in a row and I post elephants and pink! What is up with that?
My giraffes are going to get jealous!

Today is Paper Romance Challenge Day and our hostess, Cindy, challenged us to use black, white, and one other color on our projects today. I chose my favorite pink as my extra color.

I have been wanting to use Ton of Love Ellie (High Hopes) since Valentine's Day and just never got around to it, so today is the day! I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black on Stampin' Up! Naturals White Cardstock, and then colored in with Copic Markers.  The designer paper is also from Stampin' Up!

Come play along with us! You know you want to!
Challenge details and prize info can be found here.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Other challenges for this card:
Amber's Crafts - stash and anything goes (had DP forever!)
Creative Belli - C embellishments (cord that is silver!) 
Freshly Brewed - spots and dots 
Meljen's - dots

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

"I Wouldn't Forget" to Play in the Hoedown This Week!

It's Wednesday, and that means it's Hambo Hoedown time! Today's challenge is to make a celebratory card using the new Party Elephant digi image and some sparkle! I love glitter and sparkly things and this challenge was a lot of fun. 
How could I not make my elephant pink?  It's my favorite color! I chose to make a baby card and use up more of those flowers I have in my stash! I am determined to make a dent

I used Bubble Gum Glitter (Sparkle N Sprinkle) on the party hat, a Spica Glitter (Copic) pen on his eyes and mouth, and added bling with the sparkly pink flower gems (Hero Arts).
It's a baby girl delight! Check out what the other Bacon Bits did HERE. Play along in the challenge and you might be chosen to be a Guest Designer for April in the Hambo Hoedown! FREEBIES every week!

Other challenges for this card:
Stamping Vacation - monochromatic pinks 
Simply Create - monochromatic
Scrap Creations - anything goes 
Papertake Weekly - 3 of something (3 groups of flowers) 
Tuesday Throwdown - lace (pink wide lace behind ric rac)
Creative Craft Friends - lace
House of Gilli - pastels with bling
Make It Monday - anything goes
Paper Playtime - Challenge 2 - pink and glitter
Shabby Tea Room - birthday or celebration
There's Magic in the Air - monochromatic
Creative Cowgirls - monochromatic
Creative Inspirations Paint - animals
Dream Valley Challenges - new beginnings

Monday, March 14, 2011

I LOVE these images!

If you haven't stopped to check out Create With TLC, you are missing out on some fabulous digital images.  Paulette is a true artist and I love everything she makes! She is very generous with daily freebies and has great clubs to join for images delivered to your email inbox all month long!  My card today is made with her Just A Note set. Isn't is cool?

Click on the photo for a close-up view. I printed my images on Basic Grey's Basic White Collection, and added some Ruby Red accents for color. My flowers are from Prima (I am on a mission to use up my oodles of paper flowers! Or at least make a dent in the stash!). The lace is from The Paper Studio. What do you think?


Challenges for this card:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ - treasure (my hoarded Primas! But mostly friends!)
Stamping Vacation - transitional style 
Crafty Sentiments - Just for You 
LOTV Challenge blog - Say It With Flowers 
Pixie Dust Studio - Thank You for Being You
Rainbow Lady's - Best Friends
Die Cut Dreams - Mother's Day or Special Friend

Sunday, March 13, 2011

What Will You Fill the Jar With?


I like anything to do with jars, since JAR are my initials! So when this new set from Sparkle N Sprinkle was released, I knew it was one that I had to have! Take a peek:
It has something for just about every occasion! Lots of fun little sentiments that fit into the various labels too.  You can see more examples with this set by other Sparkle Team members here.

I paper pieced the jar and embossed with Silver Lightning Embossing Powder. The stars are embossed with Ocean Spark Embossing Powder. Click on the photo below for a sparkly close-up!
Challenges for this card:
Aly's Sunday Challenge - anything goes 
Gingerloft - flowers 
Let's Ink It Up - no digi and embossing


Recipe: GP and PTI White, Baja Breeze CS, Tickled Pink DP by My Mind's Eye, Prima flower, Spellbinders Oval and Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, large ric rac (Hobby Lobby), slit punch, Silver Lightning and Ocean Spark EP, 1/4" Double Sided Tear-ific Tape (Sparkle N Sprinkle)

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Seashore of the Mind

This is a very different kind of card for me today, but I kind of like it. I made it for the SCS Featured Stamper Challenge 214, where one of my favorite stampers, bfinlay, was honored today! Congratulations, Bridget!


My images are from the Music Collage Quarter Sheet by I Brake For Stamps. I stamped both with Memento Brown and then sponged on some color. Mine is pretty different from Bridget's, but I loved her ticket idea and the Kraft paper.

I used to use paper flowers on just about every card I made, and I haven't done that recently.  Today when I was in my stamp room, I saw how many I had, and decided I had better start using them again if I am going to use them up in this lifetime! :)
Thanks for the visit today!
Other challenges for this card:
Res-Q - touch of pink (Tattered Rose sponging) 
Southern Girls - flowers 
Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Flowers for Mum 
Totally Gorjuss - pearls and lace 
Phindy's Place - thinking of you/get well (mine is the first!) 
The Stamp Man - Mother's Day/floral 


 
Stamps: Music Collage Quarter Sheet by IBFS
Paper: Kraft, Creamy Caramel, Provo Craft DP
Ink: Memento Brown, Bordering Blue, Tattered Rose
Accessories: Zva Pearls, satin trim, Prima flowers, ticket corner punch, Spellbinders Rectangle Nestabilities

Thursday, March 10, 2011

It's All About Color Today at Paper Romance!

Today's challenge at Paper Romance is all about COLOR!
Sandra is our challenge hostess and she wants to see as many colors as possible! 

I used Silly Goose and Silly Goose Saying for my card today, along with the colorful Early Bird designer paper by Cosmo Cricket. A few buttons by Hero Arts and I had my COLORFUL card!

Check out what the rest of the team did here.
Play along and you could win a gift certificate to Paper Romance!

Do you like what you see? Follow my blog!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Other challenges for this card:
Crafty Purple Frog - wings
DYSU - layers
Little Miss Muffet - designer papers
Freshly Brewed - 3+ DPs
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Calling All Golddiggers!

Ok, who is old enough to remember Dean Martin's Golddiggers? :)

Well, today my post is about a different kind of gold! The challenge over at the Hambo Hoedown is all about this little St. Pat Hamster and GOLD. Read about the challenge here. You might become Queen of the Hoedown!
My gold comes in many forms: background paper, gold thread trim, gold coins, gold square brads, pot of gold...did I miss anything?

If you haven't checked out the Hambo Hoedown Challenge each Wednesday, you really need to dance on over there and grab yourself some free stuff! Each week you play you get a new image FREE to play with!

I colored my image with Copic Markers and my favorite little Spica Glitter pens ( LOVE THOSE - can't live without 'em!), and then added Celestial Glitter to the coins and Easy Green Glitter to the hat band and shamrock. 
Click on either photo for a close-up view!

Check out what the other Bacon Bits did here. There is lots of fun inspiration today! 

Last week's Hambo Hoedown card I designed won the Top Three at Send A Smile 4 Kids!  COOL!


And now for the most important part of my post:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY DAUGHTER who is 18 years old today!
Her birthday celebration is Joy #16. 
You can read about the other JOYS here.
Like what you see? Follow my blog! Thanks for stopping by!

Other challenges for this card:
Scrap Creations - Going Green 
Kaboodle Doodles - Go Green 
Paper Playtime - anything goes w/ digi 
Shabby Tea Room - Luck of the Irish 

Recipe: St. Pat Hamster - digi by Hambo Stamps
Glitter Green and Gold DP, Textured Dark Green, and patterned DP by the Paper Studio, White CS by GP, Tim Holtz Brick Wall Embossing Folder, Celestial and Easy Green Glitter by Sparkle N Sprinkle, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, gold thread, Copic Markers, atyou Spica Glitter pens, border punch by EK Success, charm, gold brads, sticker sentiment

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Operation Write Home Blog Hop is Here!

Welcome to my blog! If you have made it this far in the Operation Write Home Blog Hop, you are at #97! Thanks for being here! If you have just come from Shannon's blog, you are in the right place! If not, start at the beginning at Operation Write Home and enjoy a bevy of springtime cards and creations in today's "Bunny Hop!"

My card is made with the Spring Swirl set from Sparkle N Sprinkle. I stamped the snail in Kiwi Kiss, and the sentiment is embossed using Split Pea VersaColor and Clear Detail Powder. I am so ready for spring! Click on the photo for a close-up view. If you have never used Sparkle N Sprinkle powders, glitters and flocking, or seen their stamps, YOU MUST! They have the best selection anywhere and are so wonderful!

If you are not familiar with Operation Write Home, please click HERE. Basically, their mission is: "Supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." 

Isn't that awesome? Click here to get involved!
Upcoming deadlines for mailing in cards: the Easter card deadline (March 18th) and Mother's Day deadline (March 31st).

Next up is JENNIFER! Enjoy your hop! I know there are surprises along the way! But first, some candy here: a brand new "Punny Farm" clear stamp set from My Favorite Things.
Leave me a comment and I will choose a random winner on Tuesday!
 Like what you see on my blog? Become a follower!

Other challenges for this card:
Alphabet Challenge - ribbons (mine are from Really Reasonable Ribbon!)
Peachy Keen Stamps - stitching (faux or real - mine is real)
Simply Create - Power of Flowers 
Tellen's Place - embellish (flowers, button, ribbon)
4 Crafty Chicks - faux or real stitching
Colour Create - inspiration photo (kiwi, watermelon, cantaloupe)
Delightful Challenges - spring
Pixie Dust Studio - polka dots (embossing folder!)