Good-bye 2011....Hello 2012

WOW!!! Can you believe another year is coming to a close. 2011 has been a year of great things for me and my family and I know that 2012 is going to be full of even greater moments! I have learned so much in this past year, not only professionally and emotionally, but also in my ability to think creatively and challenge myself to try things I wouldn't normally do. I look forward to what the Lord has in store for me for this coming year! I am blessed to not only be inspired by all of my "bloggy" friends but I hope that at some point you also find inspiration from me as well.

I know that throughout this year, there were times where I took a hiatus, I plan to change that and ensure that at least twice per week, I'm doing something crafty! I've also been quite forgetful in getting birthday cards out to family members, so I've set a goal for myself that within the first week of each month, I will create all the cards that I need for that month and have them signed and sealed and ready to deliver well before their birthdays! Fingers crossed that I will be able to accomplish this! :)

Well crafty friends, I'm off to spend some quality time with my wonderful boyfriend, who is always inspiring and encouraging me to continue to do things that I find FUN! I hope that you each have a fun, safe, happy, and healthy New Year!

Until Next Time/Year....

Big Crafty Butterfly Hugs!

Merry Christmas Wishes & Snow Much Fun Winner!

Hello There Crafty Friends! I hope that you are all enjoying spending time with your loved ones so far this holiday season. It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be Christmas! Let us not ever forget the reason for this season! Without Him, nothing would be possible! As I wish each of you a very Merry Christams and a Happy Holiday season, I just wanted to share a few Christmas projects that I've worked on the past couple of days! This is a Cricut-less card! Sentiments are from K. Andrew Designs- Winter Wishes Inside of the card Another Cricut-Less card! Also using the Winter Wishes stamp set Inside of the card using Winter wishes stamp set This is one of my favorite cards that I made this holiday season! I love the simplistic feel of it! Also using Winter Wishes for the sentiment Inside Another one of my favorite cards this season! This card was very fun to make! Another Cricut-less card using Winter Wishes stamp set Last card! Quick gift tags that I put together using the Winter Frolic cartridge & Winter Wishes Stamp Set from K. Andrew Gift card holder. Tree is from the Christmas Solutions cartridge. I used stickles for all of the decorations on the tree. Inside of the holder Another gift card holder Sentiment is from Winter Wishes  Bell is from the Christmas Solutions cartridge. I added some gold and red glitter to make it pop a little! Sentiment is from Winter Wishes I hope you have enjoyed what you have seen. Before you go I would like to announce the winner of the Snow Much Fun Blog Hop! The Lucky Winner of a Mystery prize package is...... #7- Mindi Congratulations Mindi!!! Please contact me at rlhamm1 at gmail dot com with your mailing info! Alright, I know that this has been a VERY Long post! But I just had SOOO much to share! :) From one crafty friend to another I want to wish you ALL a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY SEASON! I hope that Santa brings everyone everything that they want but most importantly that you each get to spend this very special time with those that you love!! Until Next Time... Big Crafty Butterfly Hugs!!

Getting Cricky Snow Much Fun Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Snow Much Fun" Getting Cricky Blog Hop!!

We're so happy you could join us for this month's Getting Cricky Design Team Blog Hop!!  In addition to Kristal and the Senior Design Team, we look forward to introducing you to the rest of our NEW Junior Design Team (be sure to visit Kristal's Blog to see ALL of our "new additions"!!)...  Each of us, along with our Special Guest - Patty from "Creative Diva", are so pleased to have you here with us!!  Throughout the hop, you'll see NEW ideas for creating cards and projects with Kristal's stamps sets!!


If you've hopped along from Kristan then you are in the right place!! If you are just joining me from your dashboard, or reading this via email, please be sure to CLICK HERE to start at the beginning with Kristal's blog (you'll want to catch up on all the FUN!!)...


Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS  Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help!


K Andrew's stamps are all made and assembled here in the USA, which is very important to Kristal. This ensures all product materials are safe and that jobs are being provided and maintained here in America.  You can learn even more about Kristal's stamps (and pick some up for yourself) by visiting her online store: K Andrew Designs:








Kristal's stamp sets are perfect for cards, layouts, and so much more...


For my project, I'm featuring the WINTER WISHES set. For more details or to make this set YOURS, please click on the preview:






Winter Wishes







When I think about snow, something that I really don't like too much, I think about ways that I want to get and stay warm. So what better way to do that than to settle down with a nice cozy cup of hot chocolate! For my project, I'm sharing some hot chocolate cones that I have created as gifts for my co-workers and parent volunteers.

I found my recipe for the hot chocolate over at Family Fun. I used Wilton disposable decorating bags to create my cones. They are very durable! Lastly I attached this simple, yet fun tag using Gypsy Wanderings & Gingerbread Cricut cartridges and of course the amazing Kristal's Winter Wishes stamp set! I LOVE this set and it is so versatile and fun! It has definitely been my go-to set for all of my Christmas projects so far!
What would a blog hop be without some BLOG CANDY!!!! I have some mystery candy for one lucky commenter!!! All you have to do is be a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me your favorite thing to do on a snowy day! I will select a winner on Tuesday, December 20th.

Now you can hop on over to your next stop:  Veronica

........................................

Until Next Time...

Big Crafty Butterfly Hugs!

Getting Cricky Simpy Sunday Challenge- Joys of the Season

Greetings Crafty Friends! I hope that you have had a great week and your weekend is treating you well. It's time for the latest Simply Sunday Challenge over at Getting Cricky with K. Andrew! This week's theme is Joys of the Season-Holiday Decorations.  I had so much fun creating my project for this week's challenge. Lately I have been intrigued by the look of stacked boxes/cubes. This interest tempted me to making a holiday decoration that was not only simple to put together but also beautiful. Even better I will be able to use it as a decoration in my new home. Without further adieu,,here is my project I was SO happy with how these turned out! They were very easy to put together as well. They were created using my Martha Stewart scoreboard. This is the top box. I used some rhinestones and the K.Andrew's Winter Wishes set. I love this set!!! This is the middle box. I don't have any white inkpads, so I simply used some white embossing powder and I think it really helped the sentiment and snowflakes POP on the red paper. I used a Martha Stewart border punch for the bottom of the lid. This is the largest box and I had so much fun decorating this lid. The stars were embossed with silver/glitter powder and the border is from an EK Success punch. All of the sentiments for this project were from K.Andrew Designs: Winter Wishes set. You can get your very own set by visitng her store. You will be so glad that you did! I hope you have enjoyed seeing my project! I am going to create a picture tutorial to share how easy it is to make these awesome boxes. Don't forget to link up your Joys of the Season-Holiday Decoration project over at Getting Cricky! Until Next Time... Big Butterfly Hugs!!

Let's All Give Thanks

Well hello there crafty friends! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed spending time with thier loved ones and most importantly taking time to think about all that we have to be thankful for. I am so blessed to be able to wake up each morning and see all this beautiful world that God has created for us. I'm reminded each and every day that without Him, nothing would be possible!

I just wanted to share a super cute banner that I created to use at a feast that we had for the Mentoring program that I co-run at my school and after I used it for our feast, I sent it to my grandmother so that she could have it to use at our family dinner, for hopefully many more years! :)

This sentiment and image are from the K.Andrew Designs Fall-O-Ween set

This handsome guy was cut from the Create A Critter cart.

Here is the banner hung above my fireplace.The base, layers, and letters were all cut from Birthday Bash, I love that cart when making banners!

Another close up

And the other side.

I also wanted to share a centerpiece that I created for the feast that we had at school. Basically, as each guest arrived they had to take one of the leaf sticks and write something that they were thankful for. Then the centerpiece came together as each person added thier leaf. Everybody really enjoyed this part of the feast and it was great to see the beautiful decoration that we created as a group!

I used my Gypsy to make the cards and then attached them to bamboo skewers. I used Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage Photo to ink around the edges of each leaf. The basket was purchased at Michaels for 40% off!

This is a close up of the tag that I added to the front. The sentiments and image are from K. Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings and Winged Things Sets

Here is a view of the full basket, this was pre-feast so I could transport it to school.

Well that's all I have for today. I'm going to be entering these into the current Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge- Give Thanks! Be sure to check out Kristal's awesome stamp sets! They are AMAZING! Best of all they are made right here in the USA and $1 from each set sold is donated to a charitable cause! How awesome is that! Head on over to her store, K. Andrew Designs, to see exactly what I'm talking about. You will be glad that you did! :)

 I am so thankful for each of my followers who take time out of their day to stop by to see what I have been up to! Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to stop by later this week to see what other crafty things I've got up my sleeves! I'm off to start working on some Christmas decorations and cards! I can't believe I'm actually getting started early, I am definitely in the spirit already! :)

Until Next Time....

Big Crafty Butterfly Hugs...

My Hope & Link Up the Love Party with K. Andrew

Greetings Crafty Friends!

I hope everyone has had a great week and that your weekend is off to a great start! I just wanted to quickly share a card that I created to share virtually with everyone who has helped me to get through the past few months as I dealt with "feeling blue".

Because of my personal beliefs of the symbolism of butterflies, I thought that this card was absolutely appropriate for the message that I wanted to send to thank those who have stuck by me and been so supportive!

The sentiment is from K.Andrew Designs-Scripture Sayings Set. It was the PERFECT sentiment to express what I was feeling. The butterfly was cut from a Sizzix die that I got on clearance last year. I added some stickles to give it some bling!

This is the inside of the card and the sentiment is also from the Scripture Sayings Set! I just love this set!

If you enjoyed the sentiments that I used, there are more where these came from! Be sure to check out K.Andrew Designs to see all of the wonderful stamps that Kristal has created! They are so versatile and they are so easy to mix and match, best of all they are made right here in the USA and Kristal donates $1 from each set, to charity! You will definitely be happy that you stopped by her store and picked up a set or two or three :)!

I'm entering/sharing this in this week's Link Up the Love Party with K. Andrew! Be sure to join the party! You have until Tuesday November 22nd to submit your post!

Until Next Time...

Big Crafty Butterfly Hugs

Are You Ready?!?

Mark your calendars, this month's Getting Cricky Blog Hop, takes place THIS FRIDAY Night!!! You don't want to miss the fabulous projects that the Design Team has created! It is going to be a great time for all! Also be sure to visit K.Andrews Designs to check out ALL of Kristal's fabulous stamp sets. Remember $1 from each set goes to charity. How fabulous is that!!!

So be sure to grab your favorite beverage, and join us for a great time!!! Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Until Next Time...

Big Crafty Butterfly Hugs!

Look's Like It's Tea Time!

Hi There Crafty Friends!!!

This is the first project I've done since being selected as a Junior Design Team Member for Getting Cricky!!! I absolutely LOVE her stamps, did I mention that they are made in the USA and Kristal donates $1 from each set to charity!  More importantly I LOVE how kind and generous and the wonderful person that Kristal is!

I made 2 projects to enter into the current Simply Sunday Challenge which is to create something with a hot beverage!! While I'm not a coffee drinker, I do ocassionally like to partake in a nice hot cup of tea. My latest tea indulgence has been peppermint tea!!! I love all things mint and when I found this tea, while sick and grocery shopping, I discovered that it was a match made in heaven,. LOL!!!

Well enough of my babbling about mint tea, of all things, here are my projects!

I think this card definitely reminds me so much of a perfect autumn day drinking a cup of tea. What do you think? The solid paper is Recollections and the patterned papers are from a DCWV autumn stack that I got on clearance last year. The sentiment is from K. Andrews Designs- Coffee & Tea for You & Me

The coffee up and plate are cut from the Smiley Cards cart and I welded the steam from Winter Frolic

Here is a close up of the sentiment. I think this is absolutely perfect! I am planning on virtually sharing this with my close gal pals, because we are definitely the perfect blend! :)

Since I was really feeling the tea-bug, I couldn't stop at just making this card. I've really been dying to make a gift card holder and was able to find a great tutorial on how to make one at Jan's Stamping Creations. After looking at her tutorial I just had to give it a try. I am so happy with how this turned out. See for yourself!

This is the holder completed. The butterfly is from K. Andrew Designs- Winged Things and the sentiment is from the Coffeee & Tea for You & Me set.

Here it is again with a gift card in the second pocket

This is the insert in the 1st pocket that can be used for a message/note. The scrolls are from the K. Andrew Designs - Winter Wishes set

And here it is with nothing in it.

Well that's all I have for today. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope that you have enjoyed what you have seen. Be sure to stop by again real soon to see what other crafty things I have up my sleeves!

Until Next Time...

Big Crafty Hugs!