Launch of La-La Land Crafts

Irina at Everything Paper Crafts is officially launching her own stamp company: La-La Land Crafts! The official Launch Party is taking place in a couple of hours at Cranberry Hill Mercantile in Sunnyvale, California - tonight! If you're not close enough to to check out the stamps in person, La-La Land Crafts online store will be opening at 11pm PST &, for the first 24 hours, they are offering a storewide 10% discount. Since I'm on the east coast I don't think I'll be able to stay up until 2am (my time) for the unveiling but I'll be sure to check it out tomorrow. Irina's been giving sneak peeks on her La-La Land Crafts blog & it looks like they're going to have some really cute designs. You may be able to snag some blog candy by spreading the word about this new venture - there's a lovely assortment, including a couple of Magnolia stamps! Candy winner to be drawn tomorrow @ 10pm PST.

If you have a moment take a look at the blogs for each of the DT members - they have some real talent & it's no wonder they were chosen. I make my little cards & I'm completely happy with them until I see the things other people make - there are so many interesting techniques & creative people - they're on a whole other level........

Phew! My blogs are back!!

Thank goodness - my followed blogs are back! Not that the blogs themselves disappeared but my "following list" vanished. I know I'm not the only one who was having problems with it, so hopefully everyone else got their lists back safe & sound too. Despite knowing that Blogger was aware of the problem, I was a little nervous that a blog or two would be missing but it looks like they're all there. Last night I was scrambling around trying to bookmark as many of my regular stops as I could remember but now it looks as if that wasn't necessary. Oh well, that just means I have a backup if it happens again!

A quick blog candy note..........

Tab is having 2 giveaways with Magnolia stamps, pretty papers, & embellishments. Be sure to spend a little time browsing her blog; she makes some pretty fantastic cards! Winners drawn Aug. 22.

Carly's blogoversary is coming up & she's celebrating with 2 giveaways too! 1 is the Magnolia Stamp Club kit from Summer 2008 & 1 is a handmade box full of images. Check out all the cute stuff she has on her blog. Closes Sept. 23.

Ta-dah! The first card I've ever posted!!!

I finally figured out how to get pictures from my camera to the computer & it was actually pretty easy -- too bad I didn't take the time to figure it out sooner!

So....here's the first card I've ever posted on my blog. I followed the Mojo Monday sketch from a couple weeks ago; I really like a lot of their sketches although I haven't used many of them. Check out their blog if you haven't already! I've entered this card in Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #63 - Floral Fantasy (flowers on the stamp & I know it's hard to see but the paper is floral patterned as well) & the Papertake Weekly Challenge - Four Seasons (mine represents spring to me) - hope it's not too late!

Front of the card


Close-up (you can kinda see the embossing & Stickles)



I kept the inside simple


I love this stamp that I used for the back - it's not as big as it looks - I just zoomed in.




I used those foam sticky pads to pop the circle up off the card. The image is embossed in black & colored in with colored pencils - it's a little hard to tell from the pictures here but the girl on the left is in pale pink, on the right in blue. I shaded the edge of the circle with light green - not sure if I like that element but I'm pleased with the rest of the card.


Supplies used:

Paper from Basic Grey 6x6 Sultry stack
Pink velvet Offray ribbon
Stickles in Pearl (I think - I can't find the bottle at the moment)
Marvy scalloped circle punch
Stamps: Little girls from See-D's "Flutter By Butterfly" set (image cropped to fit the circle); Thank you from Stampin' Up's "Best Blossoms" set; Handmade stamp from Inkadinkado
Colored pencils


And now for a little something sweet....Blog Candy!

Stephanie is giving a $150 gift certificate (to the store/site of your choice) away in appreciation of 25,000 hits & 100+ followers. Closes Aug. 28.

Carole has 2 - yes, two! - blog candy giveaways to celebrate joining the Sugar Nellie DT. Not sure when this one closes so you'd better hurry!

Bev has over 400,000 hits & 1000+ followers & is thanking everyone with some pretty fantabulous candy. Closes Aug. 17.

Bea is giving away the perfect assortment to make a Strawberry Tilda card. Closes Aug. 15.

Leanne is moving to Dubai & giving a set of Gorjuss Girls stamps as a going away present. Closes Sept. 1.

Rach is giving away a Tilda by Magnolia. Hurry - closes at 10 pm Aug. 11.

Claire is thanking her visitors with a variety of goodies. Closes Aug. 21.

Sarita is giving away a unique assortment to celebrate her blogoversary. Be sure you check out her craft room while you're there - talk about making me jealous!! Closes Aug. 15.

Computer Issues............

I was doing better with my posts in the month of June & then the computer problems started. First it was issues with the computer not wanting to stay connected to the internet & now it rarely wants to connect period. Hopefully my computer guy (i.e. Dad) will take a look at it soon & tell me that it will be a simple fix. All I have to do is get myself in gear & walk next door with my laptop but it just hasn't happened yet.....LOL. That's kind of sad, isn't it? Maybe I'll do that this evening.

My shopping weekend is rapidly approaching & I've been trying to track down more stores that I "need" to go to while in Columbus. So far we're planning to hit Michael's, JoAnn's, Archivers, Hobby Lobby, Dick Blick, & Scrapbook Groupies. I didn't account for stores being closed or closing early) for the holiday so we'll have to see if we can work them all in. Trina requested going to a TJ Maxx or Marshall's & I'll make sure we get to 1, if not both, of those since she's nice enough to accompany me on my whirlwind trip!

Depending on what time we arrive Friday night we may just grab a slice of cheesecake & hang out in our hotel room, or we may try to get to a couple of stores that night & save the cheesecake for Saturday night. I've been wanting to see the movie The Proposal so there's a good chance that might be our Saturday evening entertainment. Basically you could say that we'll be somewhat playing it by ear. I'm hoping we get to do everything we planned but I'm just looking forward to having a weekend where I don't have to do anything!!

One more quick thing before I go.....Abby has blog candy to celebrate becoming a member of The Next Level design team. Her candy is open until midnight (EST) July 5. She makes some beautiful things so be sure to check out her blog.

Fabulous blog candy to sign up for!

I just wanted to take a minute to tell you about some fabulous blog candy from a couple of blogs I follow. Carly at Carlz Cards is celebrating 30,000 hits by giving away this beautiful assortment of stamps, papers, & embellishments. Check out the fantastic cards she makes - you'll be glad you did! It's really a beautiful blog - I love the embroidered/embellished look of her blog set-up.

After you sign up for Carly's blog candy head over to Debbie's blog, Passion For Crafts, & sign up for her blog candy! I must say that Debbie has both one of the "awesomest" (is that a word??) blogs & the best giveaways I've seen in a while. I absolutely love the clarity of pictures of the cards she makes. Plus she's got skills with Copics! In fact, I think it was on her blog that I first heard of Copic markers (have yet to get my hands on any but I can't wait to try them out!). Take a look at this card she made for a recent Penny Black card challenge - I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't love to receive something so pretty!