Sites of the week

Howdy friends! Sorry it’s been a little quiet over here. Last week was Spring Break and I stayed busy with the kiddos and in front of the computer. Thank you all for the support in regards to my big announcement last week! More on that to come!

It sure has felt good to get my fingers inky again, especially with new product from YOUR NEXT STAMP. Boy, oh boy, is this a cute release…and we’re celebrating with a new release hop! Be sure you start over on Thahn’s blog so you don’t miss a thing. If you are on the right track, you came here from Suzanne’s blog.

I have a couple of projects to share today. The first one is a card that uses the new WhatNots die collection BACK TO SCHOOL along with the coordinating WhatNots Sentiments One set…

Detail shot…

I think that I may just slip this card into Ellie’s lunchbox one day!

My next project is actually 2 small projects, tags to be exact. Every year I try to make tags to go on the kiddos’ Easter baskets. Sometimes they are super frilly and done up and other times they are sweet and simple. These fall into the latter category and I just think they are so cute…

These use the new WhatNots EASTER die set. I am so excited that I finally have a die that looks like a PEEP! I want to cut them out from every pastel paper I have! Maybe that should be the start of my excuse to have a spring party…hmmm…as if I don’t have enough going on here! LOL!

Well, it’s a hop, so I won’t keep you here with a bunch of chit chat! Hop, hop hop along to Julie’s blog for some more spring cuteness from YNS! Don’t forget to leave a comment here and at each stop along the way for a chance at YNS prizes! As always, there are hop specials available at the store. Happy hopping and shopping!

A couple weeks ago, I created THIS CARD for the YNS new release hop. Karen {owner of Your Next Stamp}, asked if I could send it to her. Well, I had already sold it to a local friend, but promised to make another for her. I’m not one for making two of exactly the same card, so I changed just a few minor things and came up with this one…

The same, but different, right?

Detail shot…

Like the other card, this one uses the oh-so-trendy camera from the YNS INSTA-LOVE set, along with the heart from WHATNOTS Seasons Set One and TAGS Galore Die 2. The center of the camera {oval} is popped up with dimensional adhesive. The oval die is from the INSTA-LOVE Polaroid die set.

One of the main reasons this card is not an exact copy {other than I just couldn’t bring myself to do that} is that I actually didn’t have enough of the same pattern papers. This time I used My Mind’s Eye COLLECTABLE: UNFORGETTABLE {a new addition to the ever growing stash of 6×6 pads}.

Dinner, laundry and kids are calling, so it’s time for me to sign off. See you tomorrow for more crafty fun!

It’s a hop! Be sure you started over on Thanh’s blog and came here from Tanya’s blog. You wouldn’t want to miss a thing!

This week is just full of new releases from the companies that I currently design for and this one from YOUR NEXT STAMP will not disappoint {not that they ever do!}. This release is HUGE! Not only are there lots of new goodies to snag, but it’s big on excitement, too, as we welcome a new illustrator to the YNS family, Angie Blom. Her INSTA-LOVE set was surely an INSTA-favorite of mine…

Detail shots…

In addition to the INSTA-LOVE set, I also used the heart die from the YNS Whatnots Seasons Set One, as well as the YNS Tags Galore Two Die.

Another part of this release in the cutest LOLLIPOP COVER die that is just in time for making your Valentine’s treat super duper cute!…

I made mine a little wild with animal print paper from Echo Park’s Love Story, paired it with the sweet sentiment from TOTAL SWEETNESS stamp set {previously released from YNS} and then added just a few bits of bling and the heart from the Whatnots die set {again!} as a finishing touch…

As always, there is a Blog Hop Special in the Your Next Stamp Store! All online orders will receive 20% OFF! Just use codeYNSJAN2013.

There’s lots more to see, so I’m sending you on your way to Dana’s blog. Happy hopping! Psst…don’t forget to leave a comment here and on each stop along the way for a chance at some YNS goodies!

It’s a hop for the new releases from YOUR NEXT STAMP! It’s the second hop posting I have today, in fact. If you are looking for my Lil’ Inker post, scroll down. My post for The Craft’s Meow will be posted above this one.

The hop started over on Julie’s blog and you should have come here from Amy’s blog. I’m just the 3rd stop on the blog, so if you didn’t start at the beginning you haven’t missed too much yet. Be sure to leave a comment at each stop along the way so that you have a chance to win one of three YNS prize packages.

I am totally in love with the new line of dies…YNS Whatnots. It’s a grouping of several great shapes that are fun and easy to incorporate into your stampy and scrappy creations. The debut set from the is line is YNS Whatnots: Seasons Set One and I used the lil’ gingerbread man and heart as part of my my focal panel…

Detail shot…

The sentiment is from the Holiday Owl set and is just the complement to the cheery die cut images. Also paired with the die cuts are papers from the Simple Stories: Handmade Holiday line…love this paper pack!

Alright, it’s time for me to send you on your way! Hop, hop, hop over to Veronica’s blog for some more YNS goodness!

***If you have participated in each of the 12 sketches this year, please note the special instructions later in this post.***

Greetings my crafty pals! It’s the first Saturday of the month and that brings a brand new, and final SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY.

Yes, the final one.

Not just for the year, but forever {or at least for now…LOL}. While I have loved hosting this challenge, seeing everyone’s beautiful creations and working with a fabulous team and great sponsors, I feel that it is time for this good thing to come to an end.

-Thank you all for your support over the years! It really means a lot to me. I hope that you have been inspired and that you will continue to use these sketches in your crafty endeavors.

-Thank you to all the sweet SFYTT Sisters AND our Designer of the Months that have made these sketches shine! You girls are AWESOME and I love you!

-Thank you to all the sponsors that have supported SFYTT through the years. It has been so much fun to work with people and products I love!

And, without further adieu, the final SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…

For my card, I used stamps from last month’s sponsor, SWEET STAMP SHOP on my card. This card features images and a sentiment from the COOL SCOOP set…

Each and every month, I have had WONDERFUL stamp companies sponsoring us. This month, like last year is a little different. SPLITCOAST STAMPERS, where many of have our stamping roots, is offering up a full one year fan club membership to the winner of the SFYTT 2012 Christmas Day Giveaway.

This year’s stamping sponsors…

The Cat’s Pajamas
Your Next Stamp
The Craft’s Meow
There She Goes
Skipping Stones
Lil’ Inker Designs
My Favorite Things
Verve Stamps
Kraftin’ Kimmie
Market Street Stamps

SFYTT Details…

While this isn’t the latest Powerball drawing, I think that the prize is pretty AWESOME!! The winner will receive $20 gift certificates from EACH of this year’s sponsors, as well as a one year membership to SCS. TWELVE prizes total!

***So, who participated in each of this year’s sketches? If so, in your BLOG POST for your DECEMBER SFYTT creation, you will need to also link your previous 2011 SFYTT creations. Just create a list somewhere in your post of the months January-November and link each creation. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A BLOG {and that’s ok!}…email me a linked January through December list.***

I know that this post is getting pretty long already, but bear with me as we still have one last DESIGNER OF THE MONTH that I would like to give a warm welcome to…Tangii Crain.

A little about Tanjii in her own words…

I am so excited to be this month’s Guest Designer!! I live in Sunny Southern California with my wonderful hubby, 3 amazing kids and my four legged fur-baby. I have an incurable obsession with pretty paper, pretty ribbons and buttons and have found coloring to be super relaxing!! I also love to quilt, sew, cook, bake, candy make and jamming. I absolutely LOVE Jen’s sketches and her Design Team always helps get the creative mojo a flowin’. I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am to play “with the big girls” this month!! Squeeee!!

Isn’t Tanjii’s card using Your Next Stamp product SO CUTE!?!?…

More inspiration comin’ your way via the fantabulous SFYTT Sisters…

Amber Hight
Amy Sheffer
Becky Carafa
Carole Burrage
Jen Tapler **she’ll be back a little later this month. She’s on a Hawaiian vacation…on a different island than she lives on. Someone’s gotta do it, I guess!**
Jodi Collins
Kerry Johnson
Megan Lock
Susan Liles
Tracy Schultz

Ok, it’s your turn now. Happy stamping and good luck!! The link system closes at 11:59pm CST on Christmas Eve.