A mystery, but anyway...

Although our mystery of our leak has yet to be solved I find myself scratching at my craft room door ready to get back to work. So many projects to be completed and so little time. Thankfully it is FRIDAY!!!!

So to begin this weekend off right, two challenges from Paper Garden Projects and Nikki Sivils.

First, Paper Garden Projects has a wonderful color challenge.

To see all of the wonderful cards from the other design team members please visit the PGP blog. Be sure to participate for a chance to win a special prize!

For the second challenge, brought to you by Nikki Sivils, a card of your choice. Here is what I made:

Thank you for checking in, hope you are inspired to participate, and look forward to bringing you a few new items in the coming days.

Have a wonderful weekend wherever you may be!

Andrea

Keepin it dry...

Well we are trying to keep our house dry, but something is lurking down below. After much detective work (cleaning a bathroom) we have found the most wonderful thing...A LEAK! So with heavy traffic in and out of our house over the past week I am checking into the "crafty den" and getting back to work. Thank you to everyone who has been so patient waiting on custom order requests, responses and standing orders. They almost wanted to block off access to my craft room and I was so close to throwing myself in front of the door. I am keeping positive and moving forward. SCRAP, SCRAP, SCRAP!

Two items before I go:

1. Check out my first tutorial for MelJen's Designs on paper piecing. I hope it brings lots of inspiration in playing with digital stamps.

2. Check out my first blog post for Scrapstreet.com on creating your own fabric blooms. Lots of fun!

Now to get something accomplished other than staring at the torn apart bathroom. I did get to have a special lunch date with my littlest man today and had such great conversation. He kept wondering what it would be like to be a light on the ceiling shining down on me. Too cute!

Have a splendid day!

Andrea

What a beautiful morning...

Just poppin in to share a card made for the 365 Cards Sunday Sketchy Challenge. Don't forget to check out all of the adorable cards today, and everyday.

This weeks images brought to you by Digital Delights.

Also, don't forget to scroll down to join in on the Paper Garden Project Blog Hop taking place through the 27th. So many wonderful projects, lots of inspiration, and a chance to win a prize in the end.

To leave you with one more tag I made today. From wood to felt, this tag has it all!

Have a wonderful Sunday, and hope it is cooler where you are :) Not sure I am prepared for summer weather, but it is on its way.

Andrea

PS: Don't forget that Scrapstreet.com Magazine is always looking for great projects to add to each issue. Head on over to see what you could submit for an upcoming issue. Would love to write about you and your project!

Welcome to the Paper Garden Projects Friendly Garden Walk...

Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some friendly inspiration.
While you visit, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their Friendly Word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their Friendly Word.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Tuesday, April 27 to send your list.

And the prize? How about a couple new little buddies (the OA Buddies cling set from The Greeting Farm)?

So enjoy the garden tour (feel free to bring along a friend!). Here is the garden tour guide list:

Cathy
Amber
Tangii
Tricia
Linda
Erin
Andrea (me)
Alyssa

The projects I choose to make for this blog hop are as follows...

I always keep friends in mind when making cards, tags, and altered art. They are present for many of those most important moments. Knowing that they are sharing in your life brings so much happiness to each and every day. Let your happy moments and greatest friendships play out on paper!

Hope you enjoyed "hopping" by. Don't forget to participate and collect those words.

My word: COMPANION

Wishing you a very happy Friday and enjoy the weekend!

Andrea

Simply Blessed

How can you not be inspired by the new release from MelJen's Designs? This weeks challenge was to create a card for our little ones. I was so excited and in the end I completed three.



Also, don't forget about this...
Enjoy the challenge and make sure to check out the other design team members creations. Much inspiration to be had.

Andrea

Thank You For the Cake...

My now four year old son said this to me as we all sat around eating some delicious chocolate cake to celebrate his birthday. Such a polite and happy little man today.

So as we headed through the day prepping for the big event (really opening the presents was his main goal) I took a few moments to make a couple of cards. Just can't let the creative bug get away.

I just love butterflies. Something about them is just so breathe taking. Luckily when making them from paper you get so much variety: from punches to stamps, and so much more!
I will be back tomorrow for a few more projects and announcements. Thursday is the new release challenge for MelJen's Designs and there are so many cards to share. I was truly inspired by this week's release and know you will be as well. Maybe I will have to give a sneak peek tomorrow?

Also, April 24th is the blog hop for Paper Garden Projects. Play along and you could win!

Wishing you a peaceful evening and start to your Wednesday!

Andrea

So Much Goodness...

Although it is raining outside, there is so much sunshine indoors today. Tomorrow my little man turns four. With big brother looking out for him we are sure to make this a special day. We have the candle (specially picked out the number four today by big brother), the gifts, and practicing our happy birthday song. I just so lucky that I get six hours of him all to myself to celebrate before anyone else comes home. Happy Birthday to my big four year old!

Now to share a few projects I managed to sneak in today. I wanted to work with Nikki Sivils, as the box of goodies always sits next to my desk.Supplies used from Nikki Sivils include: papers and stamps from My Sweet Cherry Pie, U R My Favorite, Bella Blue and Oscar Too and Ellie's Day Out.

Here are a few more items I managed to create today, which will be up in my Etsy shop by the end of the week. Until tomorrow... have a fantastic evening!

Andrea

Where the Water Ends...

To my six and four year old the beach is a place of complete freedom. They spent so much time splashing in the waves, running and giggling, and squishing the wet sand between their toes. Something comes over them when they look out into a gigantic, endless ocean. It is refreshing to us and many people passing by that they can find so much enjoyment in something so simple.

Now we have returned home, I look at my craft room and find that something similar happens to me. My eyes light up, the wheels are spinning, and as I look out over my scrap bins of paper, felt and fabric something is brewing within. GO CREATE!
If you haven't checked it out already, don't forget to hop on over to 365 cards for the Sunday Sketch Challenge! This has been a very exciting blog hop week with so many beautiful cards and so many who play along each and every day.

This second card was created for Paper Garden Projects. You have just got to love the bright colors of the patterned paper.

Sending everyone many happy thoughts on this Sunday. Hope you have a wonderful start to this week.

Andrea

It's A Party...

As my littlest man is due to turn four next week (trying not to cry), there is so much to celebrate. Boy does he know what he wants. After a quick stroll down the cooking aisle yesterday at our grocery store he picked up a box of brownies and clearly stated "this is what we are having". I didn't ask questions, I put it in the cart, and we headed on our way. Then I have continued to persuade him on getting a new bike, but again he stated "a blue robot that you control, not a red one, just blue". With how many remote controlled items we have lying around the house...maybe not?

Along with getting ready to head out of town to the crowded coast this weekend I have been working hard to bring you many new projects in the coming weeks. Starting next Monday I will be brining you a project from all of the DT each and every day. I hope that you find as much inspiration as I have working with so many talented girls and products!

Two items before I sign off for today. First, the winner of the giveaway is... Amy!!! Congratulations!

Second, hope you didn't miss Freebie Monday over at MelJen's Design blog. It is not very often that I work on "boy" cards or altered items, so I was very excited to see this one.

Wishing everyone a very happy Thursday and enjoy creating!

Andrea

NOTE: I know that there are so many creative people out there reading this :) Hop on over to ScrapStreet.com and submit an altered art project for an upcoming issue. Looking for some great summer and 4th of july items. Contact me if you have any questions.

such fantastic things...

Good Sunday morning to everyone! Waking up with my little ones stuggled beside me and starting the day off right. Working away this weekend to catch up on my to do list and have so many new items to share with you in the coming week, so check back beginning Tuesday!

To start things off this morning, a card I did for the Super Sketchy Sunday Challenge at 365 Cards. So many beautiful cards today, as usual, but completely in love with the flowers everyone used.

Check back beginning April 12th at 365 Cards for a blog hop that you don't want to miss.

I have been so grateful for the many opportunities that have been given to me recently. I am happy to say that I am now apart of Couture Cardstock and Paper Garden Projects Design Teams. You will be seeing many new projects within the next few weeks as I work away in my craft room (which needs a little cleaning out right now).

So before I sign off for the day I promised a giveaway that is long overdue. All you have to do is leave a comment here by Wednesday at 8:30 pm EST and I will randomly choose a winner. I will send the lucky winner a scrap pack, similar to the one below, and a special creation you are sure to love!
Good luck, enjoy the blog hop, and see you back on Tuesday for a special project post!

Andrea

Thinking of You Today...

When creating my project for challenge #2 using MelJen's Designs I thought it would be fun to create a card set. Simple, but still have a few elements that stand out.

As I booked my kids annual summer vacation last week I knew a card set would be perfect to tuck away in their luggage should they miss us and need to send a note home (unlikely, but could happen). This adorable bird image is from the freebie section on Melissa's wonderful blog.

NOTE: To make these just format a word document to 5" x 7" and place image on the lower portion of the document. Cut sheets of cardstock to 5" x 7" and print. I then colored the little heart and bird and added a little glaze to the heart to make it pop.

This second image, Pansies, was a perfect touch in making the tag. It was easy to cut out and made for a beautiful piece to finish the project.

Pair this image with a MelJen sentiment as a smaller tag and your project is complete!

I hope you take the challenge and enjoy all of the images she has to offer!

Working on a few fun new items to share tomorrow with a few big announcements and finally another big giveaway (if I can get myself organized). Enjoy your day and see you back here tomorrow!

Andrea

To Perk You Up...

It is a happy Monday, and bringing you a special must have from MelJen's Designs. Every Monday you can get one FREE digital image by just going to her blog. Today she brings to you one addorable "cuppa tea"!

Note: Alphabet stamps from Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker.

Now it's your turn to head on over and start clicking then creating!

Enjoy...

Andrea

Happy Together...

After a day of both a soccor and t-ball game, a lunch date, and finishing the day coloring two dozen eggs I am so happy to have spent so many moments in my day with my three boys.

This weeks card for 365 Cards Sunday Sketch Challenge was inspired by both the coming of spring blooms and my special little men.

Enjoy your happy moments with the ones you love today!

Andrea

Nikki Sivils Time!

Easter is almost here, and it seems to have come so quickly this year! My little men are getting excited about coloring our eggs and both picked out their decorating kits. I may have to die cut a few flowers to add some of my own touches :)

Just wanted to bring you bring you two projects I did for Nikki Sivils blog yesterday. I had so much fun with her new lines: Dan The Record Man, Will He B The 1, and Ellie's Day Out.

Signing off for today. Will be back next Tuesday with a giveaway and a few special projects!

Andrea

Sending A Few X's and O's for Meljens Designs...

Welcome to the first every blog hop for Meljen's Designs! I am so excited to be a part of this talented team. Before I reveal my card here is a little bit of information about challenges, prizes, and Meljen's Designs new store.

1. Meljen's Designs now has a new store website: http://meljensdesigns.com/. With this new website we will be offering INSTANT DOWNLOADS! Download links will be available right after purchase and will also be emailed to you. We also now have a search feature which you can use to find specific images.

2. Meljen's Designs Challenges launches today, April 1! We will have a "Weekly Thursday Challenge" for you to play along. This week's theme, is "Anything Goes" which runs from April 1 to April 7, 11:59 PM EST. You DO NOT need to use a Meljen's Designs image to play along, but if you do, you will be entered twice for the prize drawing. Prize will be three free digis of the winner's choice. Read more details about the challenge at the Design Team blog.

3. Blog hop prize will be a $10 GC to Meljen's Designs Store: http://meljensdesigns.com/. A winner will be randomly picked from comments left on Design Team blog.

Thank you for joining me here at my blog. Here is a list of other design team members and their creations:

Nicole, ME, Lauretta (Your NEXT Stop!), Kim, Cheryl, Shannon, Melanie, Lisa, Kimberly, Shanna, Dee, Ann, Melissa

Enjoy the first day of April and see you back here soon!

XOXO

Andrea