A Genious Idea & A Winner

 ~ Hello Everyone ~

One of my new goals for 2011 was to enter as many challenges as possible. WELL ! Once I started searching challenge sites to enter, I realized HOLY MOLY!... there's a lot of challenge blogs out there! 

Sooo... not one to let myself be overwhelmed, I decided...why not try combining the challenge elements and enter as many challenges using one card design! Come to find out many of you card making bloggers already had that GENIOUS idea! Aren't we so clever...hehe :)

Here's my first attempt at conquering multiple challenge elements using one card design...

Can I just say...I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS CARD ! 

I tend to keep my designs simple, clean lines, not too much fluff... BUT I am so happy that I decided to stretch my creativity and combine more elements than I usually do!

Verdict : I like it ! 

This card will be entered in the following challenges ...

Peachy Keen Tuesday Challenge- Sketch and Monochromatic

Peachy Keen Face it Fridays- XOXO and Peachy faces

Terrific Tuesday's Challenge- Sweethearts Cartridge

A Spoon Full Of Sugar- Valentine

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge- Love is in the Air

Pile It On- Love is on the Air
The Beary Scrap Design- Love or Friendship
SEI Challenges with Abby - All About Love

thanks to my friend Abby @ Scrapbookaholicbyabby.com

for doing all the homework and finding challenges that were compatible to enter !

AND NOW...

to the WINNER of my fav and can't do without Tweezer Bee's from the "34 Birthday Balloons and Counting Blog " is...

Mary said... 

That is such an adorable frog. I love the blushy cheeks!

Yes, even with a calendar, I still miss an occasional birthday too.

Congrats Mary, you've got mail !

Please contact me by Feb 5th so I can send your prize right

out to you! Enjoy !

PSA Essential Spotlight

~ Hi Everyone ~

 Today I'm sharing a video spotlighting

 PSA ESSENTIALS Peel & Stick Stamps

The company recently sponsored the "It's My Party Blog Hop" and generously offered to send me a bundle of their product to play with ! Wasn't that nice of them?! I know...lucky me :)

 The company will be featured on 
HSN February 1st @ 5:00am and 1:00pm Eastern Standard Time. 
The stamps will be available for purchase at a great HSN price :)

If you would like more info on this fun product, please visit PSA'S STAMP CAMP BLOG and become of follower. They have loads of inspiration, ideas and instructional videos. Also check out their company website PSA ESSENTIALS to view their entire line of products!

Enjoy the video and scroll down for pictures of simple tags I made using their product and the TBBM cricut cart :)

A Little Rain

~ Hi Everyone ~

 My elderly aunt fell and broke her rib...ouch, poor thing.  She is also in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's and is a nursing facility. She was always such a vibrant, intelligent, strong woman.  It's sad to know she is going through all that. So I'm sending her this "cheer me up" card I made using the Simply Charmed cart..definitely one of my fav carts right now :)

I hope it will do the trick and put a smile on her face :)...

it put one on mine :) 

The inspiration for this design came from the "Sweet Somethings" stamp set from Scrappy Mom's and of course I had to use those adorable Peachy Keen "Everyday Character Face Assortment" stamps !

details :

5.5 x 8.5 card base using white SU card stock

Craft card stock layer 5.25 x 8.25

patterned paper from Joanne's paper bin 5 x 8

cloud cut @ 3.25

flowers and layer cut @ 2.25

inking with SU stamps and sponge technique

sentiment cut @ 1 inch and frame cut @ 1.25

embellishments : white organza ribbon, white sakura gel pen, SU chalks for checks, inking with SU inks and sponge technique

A LITTLE BLACK DRESS

~ Hello Again ~

Here's another challenge blog entry...

Emma's Throwback Thursday

the challenge : use Paper Doll or Everyday Paper Dolls & Heat or Dry Embossing

OMGOSH ! Is she not adorable! I had TOO much fun making this card !

I used PPDU, altering some cuts to come up with her "little black shimmery dress" and "hot shimmery ankle strap heals"  both cut from foil paper. She's got bling on her ears and finger, a fabu feather boa and hot red lips, courtesy of my fav PK Princess Faces Stamp set, SU markers and a white sakura gel pen. The embossing was done with the latest Sizzex hearts folder. Finished off with some red polka dot ribbon and last but not least this adorable sentiment from 

EMMA's MY CREATIVE TIME recently released new stamp set

"You Had Me At Chocolate "! 

There's a lot of stamps out there that I enjoy, but a girl's allowed to have her FAVORITES... and these stamps have just jumped to my 

NUMBER ONE spot ! Emma, you go girl !  

Now... this little gal is ready for a night out on the town with her new man ! LOL! I can't stop giggling and singing in my head Beyonce's ...

...all the single ladies, all the single ladies, OOOoooo.... if ya like it than you should put a ring on it...

every time I look at her :)

YOU TAKE THE CAKE CARD

CLICK HERE for Kinder Stampos 34 Birthday Blog Hop

 ~ Hi Everyone ~

Here's a short and sweet post...

It's late Sunday night and I just remembered the deadline for the latest Peachy Keen Challenge Blog is tomorrow. So here's my entry ...

The challenge : use the sketch below

Here's my take ...you like?

Details :

Birthday Cake and all layers cut @ 2.5 inches

Scalloped Circle cut @ 3 inches

Patterned Paper DCVW, Pink & White Cardstock

Peacky Keen Princess Faces Stamp

Scrappy Mom's Sentiment Stamp

embellishments : Pink polka dot ribbon and bling from Micheal's, Swirls Embossing folder

Remember, if you have any question about my cards or how I made them, feel free to use the "contact me" tab at the top of the page and send me a message :)

KinderStampO's 34 Birthday Candles and Counting Blog Hop

~ Hi Everyone ~

We have another fantastic BLOG HOP for you today to celebrate the very talented JESS aka Kinde Stampo's birthday ! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESS !!! 

If you've arrived from ASHLEY'S BLOG then you are in the right place. If you are just here visiting and want to start from the top, click the link for Jess's blog above.

Today my project addresses that dreaded OOPS feeling you get when you realized you just FORGOT a important birthday ! It happens to the best of us, even us card makers ! So here is a cute little card to help alleviate that awkward moment... 

I got the idea from a magazine. I went Cuttle Bug coo-koo here and almost embossed the froggie too! I love how the texture made the elements pop! I printed up the sentiments on my computer, did lots of inking, some doodling, used Create A Critter (frog) and Nifty Fifties (lily pad) and wha-la...a belated birthday card! Who could be upset with you when you present them with this adorable face ?

My BLOG CANDY for you today is my fav and can't do without... 

Tweezer Bee's

Simply leave a comment here and be a follower of my blog to be entered for this giveaway :)

Your next stop is the every talented ANGELA'S BLOG

HAPPY HOPPING !!!

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY WINNER

 ~ Good Morning ~

 The week deadline for entries to win the BIRTHDAY BASH cart is over, so it's time to pick a winner !!!

AND the cart goes to....

Marianne said...

Happy Birthday to you, Alex! Handmade means from the heart and your card is perfect for your hubby. Love it! I hope you have a wonderful day. I am a long time follower of your blog, it's one of my favorites.

I'm SO excited for you Marianne ! You've got mail !!! You have one week to contact me to redeem your prize !   I love giving away stuff! I wish I had more prizes! Thanks again everyone for celebrating my birthday with me!  It was a blast !   Here's a very simple and quick card I made. I just loved that paper and knew I had to do something with it...

 No cricut again here, just fun paper, embossing, SU stamp and punch and a little ribbon, bling and button from Michaels and Joann's ! 

Sometimes you just need a quick crafting fix and all you have is 15 minutes ! But ohhh... how sweet those 15 minutes can be ! 

Enjoy and congrats again to Marianne ! 

WINNERS and A Card

~ Hello Everyone ~

I'm so excited to announce the winners of the 

"IT'S MY PARTY BLOG HOP"! 

So lets get right to it!.... And the WINNERS ARE...

 My Pink Stamper Set

SUSAN THURSTON

 Oh My Crafts $20 Gift Certificate

MARY GORDON WINSTANLEY 

Pink By Design $15 Gift Certificate

GEORGETTE TURNER

 Scrappy Mom's Stamp Set

EVIE COUNTS 

PSA Essentials Stamping Bundle

MAJORIE EADES

and last but not least, the winner of the special "Thank You - I Hit 1000 Followers Giveaway"

JOY WOOLSEY NIELSON won the My Creative Time Stamp Set

***Each winner has been sent a private message on their Face Book page. You have one week to reply to redeem your prize ***

CONGRATS EVERYONE !!! Can't wait to see what you create with your new goodies :)

And once again ...THANKS to EVERYONE who stopped by and hopped along, to all those who joined us on the ustream broadcast, to all my blogging friends who were part of the hop and shared their amazing talent and to my generous sponsors ! 

It was super FUN to host these events !

Now onto today's project. Sometimes I'm a non conformist and I just don't want to use traditional colors, so I made this Valentine's inspired card using a mix of pastel colors. Do you like it ? 

 There are actually no Cricut cuts here. I found the letters included in a DCVW paper stack and simply used my Stampin Up Scallop Punch to punch out the letters,  ink the edges, and placed them on pop dots.  The other patterned papers are also from the same stack. Ribbon from Micheal's. The card measures 5. 5 x 8.5.

THANK YOU !

~ Hi Everyone ~

The BLOG HOP and USTREAM were a HUGE SUCCESS and I just wanted to THANK everyone for stopping by ! The comments have been amazing ! I'm still going through them and I promise I will read EVERY single one :) 

The entry time is now closed, winners announced sometime tomorrow Tuesday, the 18th.

I wanted to share this very simple but fun banner Theresa "The Scrapbooking Queen" and I made for the "MEET & GREET USTREAM PARTY" I hosted...wasn't that SO FUN ! I was running behind with all the prep for the party (back injury/heavy meds)... and she jumped in and helped me finish it off. Thanks Theresa !

If you missed the ustream, you can view the recording HERE. 

Details : 

Flag and layers from "Straight From The Nest" sized at appr 5 x 8.

Letters with shadows from "Cuttin Up"sized @ 3

Papers from DCWV Stack #6

Organza ribbon from the Dollar Tree (great bargain)

I also have to give a BIG THANK YOU to Ruthie "September Ninth" for organizing and moderating the Ustream ! I could not have done it without you ! Thank You Ruthie !

Here's a pic of us PARTY GIRLS...

 

 You are all SO SWEET ! Thanks for coming and being my friends !

There's still time to enter the "BIRTHDAY BASH" giveaway I announced on Jan 13th (my actual birthday) it will be open until Jan 20th midnight PST. Click HERE to enter.

IT'S MY PARTY BLOG HOP and USTREAM

~ WELCOME EVERYBODY ~

This is gonna be a HUGE PARTY and YOU'RE INVITED !

First off... I'm so excited to HOST and KICK OFF this FUN BLOG HOP with you ! 

A big MU-AH and THANK YOU goes out to ALL the sweet and wonderfully talented gals

who are joining me today ! I feel so blessed to have such great crafty friends (((HUGS)))

Today's hop theme is all about IDEAS FOR YOUR NEXT PARTY !
I think throwing a great party is an art form and here you will find super creative ideas to help make your next party a HIT !

SO without further ADU...let me share TWO PROJECTS I prepared for you today !

 Project #1 : The Invitation

 Almost all parties should begin with a great invitation! Not only will it tell important info, as to the where and when,  but it should also set the mood for your party and allow your guest to get excited about the event you have planned for them! If you are successful with your invite, then your guests will REALLY look forward to attending!  Keep the invite simple, since you will make multiples, one for every guest you invite, but don't skimp on the expressiveness ! Your invite should tell the story of what your party will be like...is there a theme? will there be food or refreshments? is the dress causal or dressy? But most of all , if your guests feel you have put a lot of thought and effort into your invitation, then they will know you WILL put a lot of effort into making sure you they have a GOOD TIME ! GREAT INVITES = GREAT PARTIES ! 

Here's a sample invitation for a girls night out theme ! Wanna come ???

oops, just realized I miss spelled "regrets" hehe

NEXT...here's a fun GARLAND you can make it NO TIME FLAT to help things look festive, fun and colorful! Simple cut out 3 to 5 different shapes using double siding patterned paper. Size them up  @ 3 to 4 inches each. Use your CRICUT on the "auto fill" feature to cut multiples. Then use colorful paper clips to link them together alternating the shapes and colors. WHA-LA...festive GARLAND for your party !

 

I have some AMAZING GRAND PRIZE BLOG CANDY for you provided by some very GENEROUS SPONSORS! 

 Please THANK them with your patronage, they all have fantastic products you will LOVE !

WIN a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE to Pink by Design Store

courtesy of....

 

WIN A $ 20 GIFT CERTIFICATE to OH MY CRAFTS online store

courtesy of...

WIN ONE SET OF SCRAPPY MOMS STAMPS 

(your choice) courtesy of....

WIN A PSA ESSENTIALS STAMPS BUNDLE
courtesy of...

 

Bundle includes : 1 stamper, 1 cupcake Peel & Stamp; Stick pack, 1 lime and green ink, and 1 alignment tool. Anyone who doesn't win this awesome grand prize can tune in to HSN on February 1st and purchase at a great HSN price! 

WIN ONE SET OF MPS STAMPS!

(your choice) courtesy of....

To be ENTERED to WIN these GRAND PRIZES:

• you must visit all the blogs in the hop
• leave a comment at each stop
• be a follower of my blog
• lastly... you MUST leave a comment on the Face Book Event Page for this blog (link provided at the last stop)...  letting me know you have completed all of the above...to be fair, this will be verified :)

WINNERS announced on Tuesday January 18th !

HAVE FUN and GOOD LUCK !!!

BUT WAIT !...there's MORE...If my blog reaches 1000 FOLLOWERS at the conclusion of this hop, I will PERSONALLY GIVEAWAY this set of NEWLY RELEASED stamps created by Emma, as a special thank you to all of you who visit my blog and leave such sweet comments !

Simply leave a comment here and be a follower of my blog to be entered for this special BLOG CANDY, courtesy of me, ALEX  :)

BUT WAIT !!!!  There's EVEN MORE !!!...

Would you believe it if I told you there is a REAL PARTY going ON and we'd LOVE FOR YOU TO COME ????!!!

If you happen to be joining the hop on Saturday, January 15th at 10:30 am PST, then you REALLY CAN join the PARTY LIVE by  CLICKING HERE FOR THE LIVE USTREAM!

WHERE YOU WILL MEET...

Alex @ You Had Me At Craft
Ruthie @ September Ninth
Theresa @ The Scrap Booking Queen
Gaby @ Gaby Creates
Sandra @ 365 of Cricut
Jenny @ Crazy About Cricut
Julie @ Cricut Chick

 

YOU READ THAT RIGHT !  These crafty ladies are coming to my HOUSE and you can come TOO...online that is ! Together we will be sharing even more project tutorials and surprise giveaways only available to our LIVE party guests!

Can't make it ? No worries, it will be recorded :)

I told you THIS WAS GOING TO BE A HUGE PARTY !!! 
And it's JUST BEGINNING !!!

So let's get back on the BLOG HOP TRAIL with your NEXT STOP...

the amazing ABBY @ Scrapbookaholic!

Just in case you get lost along the way here is a list of all the stops...

Alex @ You Had Me At Craft (that's me, your host )

Abby @ Scrapbookaholic by Abby

Debbie @ DD's Crafts
Emma @ My Creative Time
Gaby @ Gaby Creates
Janis @ Pause Dream Enjoy
Jess @ Kinder Stampo
 Jenny @ Crazy About Cricut 

Joanna @ Scrap Making
Julie @ Cricut Chick

Liz @ Liz's Paper Loft

Mari @ Made by Momo
Mary @ Cardz TV
Meighan @ Scrappin Thrideeschik
Melanie @ Scrappy Mel

Nicole @ Canadian Nickel Scrap'n

Ruthie @ September Ninth
Sandra @ 365 of Cricut
Sarah @ The Pink Cricut

Theresa @ The ScrapBooking Queen

Tracy @ Craft Junkie too
Trish @ Techniques by Trish

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY SURPRISE GIVEAWAY

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE ! 
 Well a long, long time ago in the midst of a snow storm my dear mom was packing her things and heading to the hospital ....to have ME !!! 

That's right ! Today is MY BIRTHDAY and of course I wanted to invite ALL of YOU to help me CELEBRATE !

And what a better way to celebrate then to have a SURPRISE GIVEAWAY !

To enter to WIN this super fun BIRTHDAY BASH CART

Simply...

• leave a comment on this post
• include your contact info 
• be a follower
• BONUS ENTRY : if you subscribe by email, leave a second comment
• you'll have one week to enter, deadline next Thursday January 20th midnight.

AND DON'T FORGOT... the party is just getting started!

This weekend I'm hosting my FIRST EVER BLOG HOP and LIVE USTREAM EVENT!

The BLOG HOP will run all weekend long with loads of

fun projects ideas

AND the LIVE USTREAM will begin on Saturday January 15th @ 10:30am Pacific Standard Time.

LOG ON TO MY USTREAM CHANNEL HERE to join the party LIVE!  SIX of my blogging BESTIES will be joining me and you will get to meet them too ! It will be recorded, if you miss it.

LOTS OF FUN PROJECTS AND GIVEAWAYS TO BE ENJOYED !!!

A heart felt THANKS goes OUT to all my GENEROUS sponsors for making these events possible !

OH ! With all the excitement , I almost FORGET ....I have a project for you today too ! I made this super sweet guys Valentine card for my adorable husband. I'm so blessed to him as my hubby and best friend !I can't wait to give it to him :)

I used the seasonal Love Struck Cart, some awesome papers and embellishments my kids gave me for Christmas ( don't the brads look like cuff links ??? hehe )  and I believe the sentiments are from Hero Arts (sorry, I can't remember exactly)

I'm going to enter it in Emma's Throw Back Thursday Challenge :)

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

 ~ Hi Everyone ~ 

Here's a little video I did featuring my latest card. 

Isn't she sooo cute ?!

AND OH MY WORD !!!... With my new laptop featuring Windows 7 and Flip Video I got for Christmas, I can't believe how fast and easy it was for me to film, edit and upload! It took me like one tenth LESS the time it used too !!! WOW ! I'm so grateful my DH and I decided to get these ...I'm definitely a frugal person and big ticket purchases are always carefully thought out, but this was for sure WORTH IT !

 For more info on the

"It's My Party Blog Hop and Live Ustream " click HERE.

 Hmmm...I wonder if there is a challenge I can enter my card in ??? There are sooo many cool challenge blogs out there now ! 

Check back with me later this week as I will reveal the list of all the SPONSORS featured in the hop... you know what that means....GIVEAWAYS !!!...they are awesome !

My Pink Stamper Design Team Challenge

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY :)

I've had this silly little urge to make a box for over a week now, sort of like a weird craving for ice cream! I didn't know what kind of box I would make, I knew I just wanted to make a box, ANY box !... but with all the family in town for the holidays, I had so little time for crafting! But alas, the last load of family was taken to the airport today and I finally got to satisfy my craving ! OH! and it was so delicious to make ! Isn't it great when you finally get to feed that crafting fix ?!

So I decided to make my box for Robyn's My Pink Stamper Design Team Challenge! And OH MY WORD I  have less than 2 hours before the submissions close !

The challenge was to make a project using Robyn's favorite colors : Pink, Green, Brown and an optional color. So I made this cute little gift box designed to hold one homemade chocolate chip cookie ! Don't you just love the sentiment!  I think I will make a few of these and give them to my co workers :)

I used the Tags, Bags Boxes & More Cart for the box, cut @ 9 inches and a piece of acetate cut to size for the window. The cookie is actually the center of one of the flowers in the Sweet Treats Cart found on page 52 cut @ 3 1/2 inches. Cut with two shades of brown it looks just a chocolate chip cookie ! Then I used a scalloped circle punch on one side to look like bite marks! I also inked the edges for more dimension. The ribbon is from Micheal's and it has little pink stitching marks on it.

I really love how it came out ! Except I see that in the picture my torquiose green paper looks more like blue! I hope Robyn won't mind too much !!! LOL !!! Hmmm...now I think I have a craving for chocolate chip cookies ! LOL !!!

BLOG HOP AND USTREAM COUNTDOWN !!!

HI EVERYONE :)

If you caught my post of a couple weeks ago, you'll know that I announced my VERY FIRST BLOG HOP...

AND I MENTIONED that I also had some FUN EXTRA CELEBRATORY PLANS up my sleeve that I would reveal to you later ! 

WELL here goes...

I'm so excited to announce that as an extension to the

IT'S MY PARTY" BLOG HOP during the weekend of Jan 15 &16th

there will also be ....

A LIVE USTREAM broadcast from my home WHERE I will be joined by 6 OTHER CRAFTY BLOGGERS that live in my area ! YES ! You read that right ! These gals are coming to my house !

  Sandra @ 365 Days of Cricut
Ruthie @ September Ninth
Theresa @ The Scrapbooking Queen
Julie @ Cricut Chick
Gaby @ Gaby Creates
Jenny @ Crazy about Cricut

AND Each of us will be sharing a quick paper crafting tutorial during the Ustream !

Doesn't that sound fun ! It will truly be a PARTY ! Not only can you join us for the Hop, you can join the "PARTY LIVE " TOO !!!

The live USTREAM will begin....

at 10:30am Saturday January 15th Pacific Standard Time

A link to the Ustream will be provided at each one of the stops on the hop.

and no worries...if you can't make it to the USTREAM, I will be sure to record it !!!

There might even be some surprise giveaways ...wink, wink :)

BIG HUGS!!! 

HOPE TO SEE YA THERE !!!

My Holiday Break

 ~ HI EVERYONE ~

Well, my holiday break is slowly coming to end, boo-hoo!

My dear family members that have come to stay with us for Christmas and New Years are slowly making an exodus back to their homes. 

It was such a blessing to have them here with me...

ALL 11 OF THEM !!!

During that time we HAD SO MUCH FUN laughing, playing games, eating meals together, and participating in family traditions. It's was like a 10 day long pajama party !!! But alas, it's time for me and my husband to go back to work, the college kids back to school, the grandkids back to Utah and the grandmas back to Florida.

Since everyone lives in a different states, it is really a special time for us. But one of the FUNNEST (is that a word?) FOR ME was crafting with the family.

Here are a couple of projects we did together...

On Christmas Eve we sat around the kitchen table and made 16 glitter ball ornaments ! I think still they need a little somin, somin, so my plan is to personal  them with names and monograms and bring them back out next Christmas to add to the tree !

On 12-30-2010 my son Jaime and his lovely wife Sheridan celebrated their ONE year wedding anniversary! I made them this card. I decided to try a few techniques I don't usually do, namely inking, decorating and placing the sentiment inside . I think this will be my crafting new year's resolution...TRY SOMETHING NEW AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK IN 2011 :)

Lastly, for New Years Eve, my grandson and I made some some Party Hats !!! What a HOOT!!! What 4 year old boy wouldn't love a pirate hat !

I'm SO EXCITED for the NEW YEAR and all the fun things to look forward to in our little crafting world ! THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO SHARE YOUR AMAZING TALENTS AND EVERYONE WHO HAS SO KINDLY VISITED MY BLOG AND FOR THE SWEET, SWEET COMMENTS YOU'VE LEFT THROUGHOUT 2010 !!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS !!!!

MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS FOR 2011 COME TRUE !!!