Zva Creative January DT Blog Hop!

Zva Creative and our talented Design Team welcome you to join us for our first Design Team Blog Hop of the New Year! We are happy to have you join us today and wish you the best for 2012!

The Blog Hop begins at Zva Creative’s NEW blog! Be sure head on over to check it out! Leave a comment there for a chance to win an extra prize package just for visiting the blog and telling us that you stopped by! You will also find a complete list of all the participating blogs there (in case there is a glitch along the way).  

As you know, Zva offers many beautiful color groupings for pearls, flowers and crystals.  We want to make sure that they shine bright for you, so each designer was asked to share a creation using a specific color or color combination on their blog hop project.  If you like what you see you can find a list of stores and online retailers that sell Zva HERE.

Here are a few cards created with new CHA releases! I love the flourishes that are combined with leaves... it makes adding a bunch a flowers at the base of the flourish easy and beautiful! This card could be recreated in 10 minutes or less.

This wedding card was also made in less than 10 minutes, but looks like it took hours thanks to how easy it is to use Zva's Bling. All of the pearls and crystal come on one sticker strip, so all you have to do is apply it to your card or layout.

If you would like to play along with our design team, just follow along the blog path.  I am linking to one of the Zva designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. Be prepared to be inspired along the way!

Hidden on FIVE of the designer’s blogs is a Zva Creative prize package! Winners will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to leave a comment on as many blogs as you can along the way.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here are the details: The Blog Hop starts today, January 30th and runs through midnight US Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday, January 31st.  

The 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, February 1^st on each of the five winning blogs. The full list will be found on Zva’s blog as well. We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Wednesday... plus, you never know what kind of inspirational creation that you may find there.

We also thought it would be more fun to add even more chances to win our blog hop prize!  To increase your chances of winning:

* Comment to let us know that you posted on your Facebook page about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)

* Comment to let us know that you "tweeted" about our hop (link to any of the blog hop posts)

* Comment to let us know that you asked your local store to carry Zva creative products.  If they already do, that's fantastic, maybe you can suggest other products that they don't carry.

*Hop over to Zva’s NEW blog and leave a comment there to tell us that you made it there!

The blog hop begins here at Zva Creative’s NEW blog. Your next stop is Tara Orr. Enjoy!

Thank you for joining us!

P.S. Mark your calendar to join us again on February 27^th for our next Zva blog hop!

Go-to Gal Designer Challenge: a•muse studio

Hello!  Welcome to another installment of a Go-to Gal Challenge. Today we are joining Paper Crafts Connection and Moxie Fab World in celebrating Paper Crafts new & really cool special issue Stamp It! 3 Ways.

Stamp It! 3 Ways is a great issue because it shows 3 different designer's take on one stamp set. Yes, 3 people... using one stamp set (or stamp in some cases) to create 3 vastly different cards. Its really cool, but you'll have to pick up an issue yourself to see how cool it really is!

Today my fellow Go-to gals and I are all using the same two stamp sets to create 6 different cards for you... so be sure to hop along to see how versatile your stamps can really be:)

  

Using a•muse studio's  Harlequin Background and Essential Sentiments and here's what I created...

I started by stamping the harlequin pattern in a very light ink color and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then cut the embossed paper with label die template and layered it over a card made form patterned paper. I then embellished the pattern pearls, flowers and ribbon.  Lastly, I stamped and cut a sentiment tag and adhered it to the card.

Don't forget to visit each of the Go-to Gals blogs today. Everyone has created something fun and inspiring for you!

Teri Anderson

Julie Campbell

Kimberly Kesti

Jennifer McGuire

Betsy Veldman

And stop by the Paper Crafts Connection blog this afternoon for your chance to win both of the a•muse studio stamps that we shared with you today.

Enjoy!

Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond! Blog Frenzy Day 8

The entry window for theSpellbinders Paper Arts contest on this blog has ended.

Welcome to the 8th day of the Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy! 

Spellbinders™ Paper Arts is absolutely thrilled to bring you our largest product releases ever! These new collections are some of the most innovative and beautiful die cutting and embossing templates in the world! The Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy allows you a sneak peek of our introductions for the 2012 Winter Craft and Hobby Association trade show later this month. 

Win today’s new Spellbinders products!

Be eligible to win the Grand Prize by entering each day, see the schedule below!

Enter my Blog Frenzy from 12:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) January 19, 2012 until 11:59 pm January 20, 2012.

Today’s participating Blog Frenzy includes my blog Tina McDonald, Gloria Stengel and Nina Bracket’s blogs.

You can enter yesterday’s blogs, Linda Duke, Sherry Cheever and AJ Otto's through January 19 at 11:59 pm EST.

See the Spellbinders Blog for the complete schedule of designers and contest rules.

Thank you Spellbinders Paper Arts for sponsoring this contest!

Today I'm pleased to share with you two projects that I created with S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three and Spellbinders M-Bossabilities™ folder EL-005 Splendid.

Spellbinders Products:  GC-001 Grand Calibur Machine, GC-003 Grand Raspberry Plate, M-Bossabilities folder EL-005 Splendid and Die Template S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three. See below for a full list of supplies.

Here are the new releases that I introduced to you today:

Sku Name S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three


MSRP: $19.99


PRODUCT SIZES:

Flower: 4 3/8"

Sku Name EL-005 Splendid 


MSRP: $9.99


PRODUCT SIZES:

5 x 7"

I am so excited to feature the new and innovative Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folders! These are unique reversible folders, with 2 separate yet coordinated embossing patterns for twice the  designs and double the value! The folders simply flip over, so easy to use! There are 20 new folders, each with 2 designs, and they come in 2 sizes, 5 x 7” and 4 ¼ x 5 ½” for all your paper crafting needs!

Watch this introductory video!

See how to use the new Spellbinders M-Bossabilities in this video!

So are you excited about M-Bossabilities now? Want to see how I used M-Bossabilities™ folder EL-005 Splendid on my project? 

1) Remove hardware and handle from box.

2) Cut kraft cardstock to fit sides of box (sizes will vary depending of size of box you select). Cut enough to cover only the front, back and two sides of your box.

3) Emboss cardstock pieces in the Spellbinders Grand Calibur machine using EL-005 Splendid embossing folder. Create a sandwich with A-Base Plate, folder with cardstock inside, and Grand Raspberry Plate.

4) Adhere cardstock to box. Ink face and edges with Distress Ink.

5) Apply a thin layer of MicroGlaze to surface of box. Buff with rag to remove excess glaze. Allow box to dry and buff again to polish box.

6) Cut old book pages with S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three. To create this box, I cut 24 flower dies; however the number of flowers will vary depending on the size of box being embellished and how tight flowers are made. Tip: cut multiple sheets at one time.

7) To create the spiral flower, roll the outside end of die cut around a thin stick … here I used a paintbrush.

8) Add hot glue to the base of the flower die and allow rolled flower to unwind into the adhesive.

9) Paint flowers.

10) Adhere flowers to the top of the box. Re-attach hardware and handle. Tie on bow and tac in place with hot glue.

You can also create elegant cards using these two new releases. Here is one that I made by stacking three felt flowers cut with S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three over ribbon that is tied onto cardstock that is embossed with EL-005 Splendid embossing folder. Note: Notice how you can incorporate patterns from both sides of the M-Bossabilities folder into your project.

Spellbinders Products:  GC-001 Grand Calibur Machine, GC-003 Grand Raspberry Plate, M-Bossabilities folder EL-005 Splendid and Die Template S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three, S4-328 Foliage, and S5-028 Nested Pennants. See below for a full list of supplies.

By entering the Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy you agree to the Official Rules.  For questions on the Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy, send an email to contestquestions@spellbinders.us; no entries will be accepted at this email address.

TO ENTER:

My blog is open for entries from 12:00 am, January 19 2012, until 11:59 pm, January 20, 2012, EST.

1) Send your Blog Frenzy email entry to: Reveal25@spellbinders.us

2) The subject must be S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three and EL-005 Splendid

3) Send!

Be sure to visit all the Designers on their Blog Frenzy dates!

Daily winners will receive an email within 24 hours of the blog frenzy’s closing. The winners will have 72 hours to reply to that email to claim prize. If a winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be drawn. 

To be eligible for the Grand Prize, enter each and every Blog Frenzy within its designated time period, send your entries from the email address for each entry.  The Grand Prize has a retail value of over $1900 and includes the complete Spellbinders line of die cutting  and embossing templates released at the 2012 Winter CHA show, and a Spellbinders Grand Calibur® Die Cutting and Embossing Machine!

I love your comments! Unfortunately your comment does not count as an entry, so be sure to enter as stated above, and then leave a comment!

Thank you for visiting and good luck!!

To receive information and announcements from Spellbinders, sign up for the Newsletter and subscribe to the Spellbinders Blog. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and Pinterest. Thank You!

Spellbinders and M-Bossabilities are trademarks of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.

Grand Calibur is a registered trademark of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.

FULL SUPPLY LIST

Floral Cigar Box Purse

Spellbinders Products: GC-001 Grand Calibur Machine, GC-003 Grand Raspberry Plate, M-Bossabilities folder EL-005 Splendid and Die Template S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three.

Adhesive: 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue by Beacon Adhesives

Box: Cigar Purse Box by Darcie

Cardstock: kraft by Bazzill Basics Paper

Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink by Ranger

Paint:  Pink Grapefruit & Ginger Flower Luminarte Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist by Creative Imaginations

Ribbon: 7/8” Rose Satin Ribbon by Schiff Ribbons

Other: Vintage book pages; MicroGlaze by Judikins

Best Wishes Card

Spellbinders Products: GC-001 Grand Calibur Machine, GC-003 Grand Raspberry Plate, M-Bossabilities folder EL-005 Splendid and Die Templates S4-357 Spiral Blossom Three, S4-328 Foliage, and S5-028 Nested Pennants.

Adhesive: 3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue & Fabri-Tac by Beacon Adhesives

Cardstock: kraft by Bazzill Basics Paper; soft white by Paper Source

Felt: ecru by Felt on the Fly on Etsy

Ink: Blackbird Chalk Ink by Clearsnap

Ribbon: Blue 5/8” Satin Ribbon by Michaels Stores Inc.

Stamp: SS 096 Taglines Clear Stamp by Flourishes

Other: Vintage book pages

Wednesday Wisdom: MLK Jr.

Remember when I used to post a bit of admirable wisdom every Wednesday?... you know... great quotes... poems... excepts from literature?  What happened to that?  I think those were the days when I scrapbooked more, as I always use great quotes (or what I consider to be life's wisdom) on my pages.  I'm a big believer that as we are all put on this earth to learn from each other... so quotes are something that I always try to incorporate in the pages and artwork that I create for my children.

Ah... life. How busy we get. Anyway. Here are a few of my favorites from an honorable man that we celebrate this week, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.


Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.


At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.


I am not interested in power for power's sake, but I'm interested in power that is moral, that is right and that is good.


I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.


Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'



Take care & happy Wednesday!




Source Brainy Quote.

Hello 2012!

Well, I'm back. It looks like my week off after Christmas turned into three... actually (as my 1st grader always says). My how time flies!

Hopefully you all had a great holiday & I wish you the best for 2012! Hope its off to a good start!

My start to the new year has been busy. Busy with life. Busy with school. And busy being creative. Busy making my first mixed media canvas (if you are pondering making one... go for it! ...very liberating). I have already made more cards than I care to count... more so far this month than I probably made in total in 2010. It always amazes me, what just a year will bring.

Last year was truly an amazing year... from my first trip to a CHA show (and to the west coast), to joining the Spellbinders Paper Arts Design Team to becoming a Go-to Gal for Paper Crafts Magazine... wow! Talk about mind blowing. Words just don't describe it.

The year only got better as I started working for Anna Griffin (who is just one of my all time favorite designers... EVER) to becoming the Design Team Coordinator at Zva Creative, a manufacturer that I have the upmost respect for. Yes... one amazing year that I will always be eternally grateful for.

So I thought I'd start off the year and end this post by sharing my top three favorite projects from 2011.

 Happily Ever After Card created for Zva Creative

Sweet Gift Box created for Paper Crafts Magazine's 350 Cards and Gifts

Wings layout created for Spellbinders Paper Arts

Be sure to stop back on Thursday when I get to share a project that I recently created for Spellbinder's Abilities & Beyond Blog Frenzy!  If you haven't checked out the frenzy yet, you can see today's reveals HERE. Take care!