Purge Blog Hop Winners announced!!

Hello!!
It's Monday, and I'm still at CHA checking out all the fabulous new "toys" that will be available soon. As you know now, due to this purge hop, I'm seriously addicted to paper, and after seeing some of the new lines of my favorite companies, I will seriously be able to feed that addiction soon....LOL....there's some yummy stuff comin' ya'll!!

Now, for the winners of the purge hop. I have the package that I pictured in my post, as well as 5 boxes of paper to share. If you see your name, please email me with your address, and I will get your packages in the mail later this week. I won't be home for a few days yet.


The goodies pictured winner:

Gabriela said...
What a lovely card, Tosh! Love your use of the tiny library clip. That's quite a generous stash of blog candy! My favorite item in your blog candy are the Spellbinders. Are you sure you want to include those in the giveaway pile?

Paper winners:

EllenaElizabeth said...
What a subtle but stunning card.Your giveaway looks wonderful .


Wanda Cullen said...
What a fun blog hop! Love this whole purge idea (different from my work-related purging of giving laxatives and enemas - lol)! Your definition of purging is so much better! :-)


Naomi said...
Tosha,
GORGEOUS card! I LOVE the tiny clip!
WOW....what an AMAZING prize package you have there!

Barbara A. said...
Whoaaa........my mouth is getting really watery just looking at this amazing purge pile! I love the colors of your card, so pretty! Thanks for the chance to win and for sharing your talents with us all!
January 22, 2012 9:55 AM

Conniecrafter said...
So pretty, great verse and I love the detail along the bottom under the buttons!!
Oh my I love crystal gems and die cuts and I don't have any of them... always love new paper too ;)
January 22, 2012 2:53 PM


I hope you've enjoyed this Purge Hop. Thanks so much for participating!!

Have a fantastic week and.....

Happy Stamping!! ;)

Viva la Verve Jan. Week 4

Hi stamping friends!! I have a quick post to share with you today. I'm heading to CHA tomorrow, and there's so much to get done before I leave. Two super sweet, and totally talented stamping friends are riding down to Anaheim with me: Laurie Schmidlin and Linda Duke. Talk about some serious stampin' skills. Wowsers!! I'm hoping that some of their mojo rubs off during our long driving time. (fingers crossed)

Anyway, Verve has made a small change in the Viva la Verve Sketch schedule. The last week of the month will be a CAS sketch. I think that is such a fun idea to take some of us out of our comfort zones. Today, Shannan has provided the sketch, and you can find it in the Verve Forum HERE. I used the Verve set World's best along with some Ranger Distress inks and 3 itty bitty Pizzaz Aplenty Rhinestones.

That's it for today!!
Have a super weekend my friends!!
Happy Stamping!!

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Stamps: World's Best (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Antique Linen, Bundled Sage, Frayed Burlap and Milled Lavender (Ranger Distress), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Rhinestones (Pizzaz Aplenty)

Purge Blog Hop

So, are any of you admittedly "paper-aholics"? Well, I am, and I have the stacks and stacks to prove it. But, it's a new year, and it's out with the old and in with the new. Therefore, I need to make room for my newest obsessions. :) That's where ya'll come in. A few of my blogging friends and I, have decided to "Purge" our stamping stash, by giving it away as blog candy. I have one package with a variety of goodies, and several boxes of miscellaneous papers by just about any dp company you can think of. We'll call those "grab bag" boxes. They may have 6x6 paper pads, 12x12 pieces of dp, or a combo of both, but, each box is FULL to the brim. (some paper pads have pieces missing, but very little if any. And there are random pieces of dp thrown in too.

All you have to do to win one of these boxes, is comment once on the hop spots you want a chance to win and tell us what you spy as your favorite item. The hop will stay open until January 28th, 5PM ET. Each of my friends will post a winner from their prize post on Monday, January 30th!

First, let me share a card with you that I designed using some of Verve's newest images: Zephaniah 3:17 Plain Jane, Twitterpated, and Wings of Love.

See the little clipped on heart? That was diecut with one of the hearts from Verves die set From the Heart.

The butterfly is from the Twitterpated set and was diecut with the All Aflutter die set

Here's a look at everything that's in the Grand Prize package. The other packages just have paper in them, but they are full, full, full!!!

Spellbinders Anemone and Daisy Flower Toppers, Martha Stewart Around the Page Punch, Tim Holtz Embossing Folders, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Authentique and BoBunny dp, Martha Stewart Twine, Crystal Stems (Wild Orchid Crafts), MME dimensional sticklers, ribbon, decorative tape

Here's the Hop list in case you miss anyone along the way. :)

Tosh

Andrea

Maureen

Sony

Laurie

Julee

Janelle

Betty

Jen

Teresa

That's it. Hope you've been inspired to create, and I hope you have fun hopping along!!

Happy Stamping!!

VLV Jan. 2012 Soar and Believe

Teresa has a fantastic sketch designed for Viva la Verve this week. Check it out HERE. I used one of Verve's newest releases called Wings of Love. I think the wavy heart is just precious, and thought the wings would be perfect with the sentiments I used. Julee also designed a sweet heart die, Wavy Hearts Die, which frames the heart beautifully!!. I put the Labels 18 framed sentiment inside the little envelope.



The sentiment flag was diecut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Banners die.

I also added a little Martha Stewart punched key, that I covered with some silver glitter.


Short post today. It's been a long day, and I'm ready to call it quits for the night.
Thanks so much for visiting!!
Happy Stamping!

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Stamps: Wings of Love (Verve)
Paper: Loolah (Creative Imaginations), Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Smokey Gray (Versafine), Versamark
Accessories: Wavy Hearts Die (Verve), Kraft Envelope (Maya Road), Labels 18 die (Spellbinders), Tattered Banners die (Tim Holtz Alterations), Silver button stickers (EK Success), Rhinestones (Pizzaz Aplenty), Lace, Silver Glitter, Sewing Machine, White Acrylic paint, Heart Key Punch (Martha Stewart)

Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party ~ Jan.

It's time for Waltzingmouse Stamps' first Blog Party of the year!! I'm so excited to be able to participate with a card using this month's theme, "Sweet Things".



I'm hoping you'll be able to guess what about my card is sweet. My son didn't get it. He thought the image, from the set Teeny Trees (WMS), was a tree or flower. Which is exactly what this image was designed to be, so I can't hold that against him. But I thought it would be fun to make it into cotton candy by using my Quickie Glue pen and some Sparkly Flocking Powder by Martha Stewart. If you click on the photo, you can see the sparkle better.

Hope I've inspired you to join in the WMS Blog Party. All you have to do is make a card with WMS images, with the Sweet Things Theme, and link it to the WMS Blog. There is a time limit, so be sure to check the blog for all the details.

Thanks for visiting.
Happy Stamping!!

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Stamps: Teeny Trees (WMS)
Paper: Yours Truly (Echo Park), White (PTI)
Ink: Blush and Latte (a muse), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Labels 2 die (Spellbinders), Flocking Powder (Martha Stewart), Quickie Glue Pen, Twine (Twinery), Button (PTI), Rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Border Punch (Fiskars), Scor-Buddy, Medium Scallop die (a muse)

Verve January Spotlight Hop

Welcome to our January 2012 After Party Hop! Last night we released 3 new stamp sets, 4 plain janes and 4 dies! All of the new products we've been showcasing this week are available now in the Verve store! Be sure to leave a little comment love as you take a stroll through the Diva blogs. One lucky commenter from today's hop will win the ENTIRE Release! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

If you've arrived here by way of Charmaine's blog, you're on the right path.

So, did you attend the Verve Release Party last night? Did you rush right over and get your new Verve? If not, we have another day of inspiration (temptation...*grin*) for you.

Today I want to share a little box of love I made with a variety of Verve dies and a Martha Stewart "All around the page" punch.


For the little 3x3 card, I used the smallest heart from the From the Heart die set, and the sentiment from the new Wings of Love set.


For the sentiment collage on my box, I used the following dies and stamp sets: Lovely Marquee die, Charming Oval die set, and the Floral Circles die set. The wings and sentiments are all from the Wings of Love set.

Here's a close up of the collage.

These sentiments are all included in the Wings of Love set.

And now you've come to the end of my post. :)
I hope you've enjoyed the inspiration this week. Thank you so much for stopping by. Be sure to stop by the Verve Blog for details on how you can win the entire release.

Here's the Hop order in case you've missed a stop along the way. Next on the hop is the ever inspirational, Laurie.

January 14, 2012
1. Amy	8. Tosha
2. Maureen	9. Laurie
3. Sankari	10. Julee
4. Andrea	11. Janelle
5. Teresa	12. Betty
6. Amber	13. Shannan
7. Charmaine	14. Jackie

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Stamps: Wings of Love (Verve)
Paper: Yours Truly (Echo Park), White and Smokey Gray (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Lovely Marquee Die, Charming Oval Die Set, Floral Circles Die Set, and From the Heart Die Set (Verve), Heart Clover punch (All over the page punch: Martha Stewart), Button (PTI), Black String (May Arts), Rhinestones, Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Houndstooth embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Scor-Buddy

January 2012 Verve Spotlight Release ~ Day 3

It's Day 3 of Verve's Jan. Spotlight hop, and One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

Today the divas are featuring the following: Hearts & Swirls Die, All Aflutter Plain Jane, All Aflutter Die Set, and I have 2 projects to share with you. The first being this sweet little card.




I used the little solid heart trio to make the three stripes on the card and little envelope. (the card is itty-bitty btw...it only measures 2.75" x 3.5". I used the All Aflutter die to cut out my Copic colored butterfly, and added the sentiment. I love the little "twitterpated" sentiment I added to the envelope. Isn't that cute!!


I also made a Top Hat Gift Box (Filled with Cinnamon gummy hearts....YUM!!), and used the "Love ya" sentiment, from the set Twitterpated, for a little sentiment tag. I diecut it using the A Cut Above die Charming Banner. It was stamped with Onyx Black Versafine ink directly onto some gray felt.

Here's a top view. For the tutorial on how to make this Top Hat Gift Box, scroll down to the next post.



Here's a close up of the decorations.


That's finally it from me today. :) Be sure to visit all the other divas' blogs!! They are all hugely talented and inspiring!!

January 13, 2012
1. Amber	7. Amy
2. Teresa	8. Laurie
3. Charmaine	9. Maureen
4. Andrea	10. Julee
5. Tosha	11. Sankari
6. Janelle

Thanks so much for visiting, and for all the encouraging comments!!
Happy Stamping my stampin' friends!!

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Twitterpated Card
Stamps: Twitterpated (Verve) Paper: White (PTI) Ink: Colorbox Accessories: All Aflutter die (Verve), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Rhinestones
Top Hat Gift Box
Stamps: Twitterpated (Verve)
Paper: White (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Felt, Charming Banner dies (Verve), Circle dies (Spellbinders), Flower and Heart beads (Wild Orchid Crafts), Rhinestone Ribbon, "forever" charm, Paper bird and Rhinestone Swirl (Prima),

Top Hat Gift Box Tutorial

Last Fall I was asked if I would like to be featured in the on-line Magazine Papers and Pixels for the month of December. I was honored and thought it would be fun. I had wanted to design a "Top Hat Gift Box", and thought this would be the perfect opportunity. Here's the Top Hat I designed with the tutorial included.

Supplies: Cardstock: (2) 4.25" x 10"

(1) 3" Circle

(1) 4.75" Circle

Felt: (1) 4.25" x 10"

(1) 3.25 " Circle

(1) 4.75” Circle

Glue, Double-sided tape, ribbon, Scoring tool, scissors, border punch (optional)

1. Punch one side of each 4.25" x 10" piece of cs and score 3.75" in from un-punched side. Use a bone folder to fold on score line. (You don't have to use a punch for the edges, I just found it went faster than cutting out the points to fold over the circle.)

2. Snip up to score line every quarter to one-half inch

3. Take one of the pieces of the 4.25" x 10" cs, roll and glue snipped tabs to bottom of 3" circle.

4. Take the other long piece of cs, roll and slide inside glued roll to make it a perfect fit. Mark where the one end meets, score it. Now you know how far to roll and glue the other end to fit inside.

5. Glue second roll together and then glue tabs to center of 4.75" cs circle. (I used double sided tape to hold the rolls together because I was impatient to hold them in place until they were dry.)

6. Glue 4.25" x 10" piece of felt to outside roll.

7. Cut out 3" circle from inside of 4.75" circle of felt.

8. Glue outside of felt circle to the rim of top hat.

9. Glue 3.25” Circle to top of top hat.

10. Glue ribbon and whatever other decorations you want to add to the top hat. I made a "frilly" top hat, but it would be fun to make a more masculine, "Frosty" type hat, or even a different colored one.

10. Fill the inside with goodies.

My daughter wanted me to make a hat for her also, so I made a white one this time and filled it with Cinnamon gummy hearts. You could also use it to fill with gifts, such as jewelry, or other small items.




That's it for the tutorial.
Thanks so much for visiting!!
Happy Stamping!!

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Supplies:

Black Top Hat
Stamps: Candy Jar Christmas (Waltzingmouse)
Paper: Black (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Felt, Circle and Wizard Tag Trio dies (Spellbinders), Lace, Seam Binding Ribbon, Button, Holly Punch (Martha Stewart),

Ivory Top Hat
Stamps: Twitterpated (Verve)
Paper: White (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accessories: Felt, Charming Banner dies (Verve), Circle dies (Spellbinders), Flower and Heart beads (Wild Orchid Crafts), Rhinestone Ribbon, "forever" charm, Paper bird and Rhinestone Swirl (Prima),

January 2012 Verve Spotlight Release ~ Day 2

(If you click on the photo, you can see the silver and sparkle better.)

It's Day 2 of Verve's Jan. Spotlight hop, and One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

Today the divas are featuring a Plain Jane, and a fun set called Wings of Love. There's a matching die set called Wavy Hearts too. I snuck in an extra image and frame that will be peaked tomorrow. So shhhhhhhh....it just fit with the idea I had in my head. What can I say? :)

I started by inking the winged heart, from the Wings of Love set, with Versamark, and embossed it with silver. The sentiment frame was done the same way. I then used a Salmon Pearl Pen, from Viva Decor, to fill in the heart center, and some crystal glitter for the wings. The "Happy Valentine's Day" sentiment is a Plain Jane, and was stamped using Papaya Cream Pigment Ink by Colorbox. It's framed with a new Verve image and die as well as a die from Spellbinders' Twisted Metal Tags and accents.

I then added some sweet little sentiment pieces from the Wings of love set: "my angel." and "cherish." I made this for my daughter (who I call "angel") who is away at college, and she's not a "pink" type of girl, so I'm hoping the salmon color and soft green/blue background fits her style more.

That about sums up today's card. Be sure to check out the other Diva's blogs if you haven't already!! :)

January 12, 2012
1. Janelle	7. Teresa
2. Julee	8. Andrea
3. Laurie	9. Sankari
4. Tosha	10. Maureen
5. Charmaine	11. Amy
6. Amber

Thanks so much for visiting!! I hope you're enjoying the Spotlight hops!!
Happy Stamping!!

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Stamps: Wings of Love, Titterpated, Valentine's Day PJ (Verve)
Paper: Inspired Traveler (Creative Imaginations), White (PTI)
Ink: Smokey Gray (Versafine), Versamark, Papaya Cream (ColorBox)
Accessories: Hearts and Swirls Frame die (Verve), Twisted Metal Tags and Accents die (Spellbinders), Large Scallop die (a muse), Silver Embossing Powder (SU!), Salmon Pearl Pen (Viva Decor), Seam Binding Ribbon, Silver Cord, Sparklet (Kaisercraft), Quickie Glue Pen, Crystal Glitter, Rhinestones (I-Rock), Lace, Border Punch (Fiskars), Scor-Pal, Sewing Machine

January 2012 Verve Spotlight Hop ~ Day 1

Welcome to our January 2012 Spotlight Hops! Hop along with the Divas over the next few days as we share our first looks at a few of the new products releasing from Verve this Friday night! One lucky commenter from each day's hop will win the sets and dies featured that day, so be sure and leave a little love in the Divasphere! Check out the Verve Blog today for all the prize details and deadlines.

Today, the dt is featuring Lucky You, a new Shamrock Die set, and two Plain Janes.

It just so happens that my husband's birthday is March 17, which is St. Patrick's Day in the U.S. So I thought I'd make his birthday card using Verve's charming new set called Lucky You. Julee also designed a Shamrock Die set to match. Sweet!!! :) I framed the Blessing sentiment using two Verve dies: Rounded Scallop Frame and Rounded Rectangle. I then scored the scallops around the frame using my Scor-Buddy, and diecut the charming Shamrocks with the new Shamrock Die set. Lastly I added some pearls to the shamrock centers, some sewing, and a punched border. Clean and simple. Perfect for a guy. :)

I'd also like to take a moment to welcome a new diva to the team...Janelle!! She's got mad stamping skills, and is sweet to boot!! Now that's a great combination!!

That's it for me today. Be sure to stop by the rest of this week for some more peaks, and don't miss any of the divas' blogs today. They are sure to inspire.

January 11, 2012
1. Amy	7. Charmaine
2. Maureen	8. Tosha
3. Sankari	9. Laurie
4. Andrea	10. Julee
5. Teresa	11. Janelle
6. Amber

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Stamps: Lucky You (Verve)
Paper: Gathering (Authentique), Kraft and Vintage Cream (PTI)
Ink: Pearlescent Ivy (Brilliance), Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Rounded Scallop Frame, Rounded Rectangle and Shamrock dies, Scor-Buddy, Pearls, Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Sewing Machine, Dimensional Tape (Scotch)

Masculine VLV Sketch

Let's face it, masculine cards can be a bugger to create. But when I saw Amber's VLV sketch for this week, I immediately thought "guy card" design. I made this card for a guy who's going through a rough time right now, and thought the "Hunt and Gather" dp by Kaisercraft, combined with some Karen Foster sticky back cork board would work beautifully with the Verve Love Notes heart and "Blue Skies" sentiment from the Verve set Blue Skies. Most guys don't go for all the frou-frou, so I just added a metal brad, and woila...easy, and perfect for a guy.

Be sure to check out this week's VLV sketch. We'd love to have you participate too. It's really easy, and best of all, you can win some Verve Stamps!!

Heads up too....Verve is releasing some wonderful new sets on the 13th of this month, so don't forget to stop by for some previews. I've been working on them already, and these stamps are a dream to work with.

Happy Stamping ya'll!!

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Stamps: Love Notes and Blue Skies (Verve)
Paper: Hunt and Gather (Kaisercraft), PTI
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Black Soot (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Ribbon (Lush Brown MME), Ric Rac die (Spellbinders), Brad, Cork (Karen Foster), Corner Rounder

2011 Paper Crafting Favorites

This is my first time sharing my project favorites for the year. I love looking through other paper crafter's favorites, so I thought, why not give it a try.

I would like to start by thanking all of you for your continued encouragement through comments throughout the year too. It doesn't go unnoticed, and is very appreciated. I hope you all have a 2012 filled with blessings!!

So, here goes: The colored words are links that will take you directly to the image sets.

January: Verve ~ Smallest Things

February: Verve ~ Love Notes

March: Stamper's Dream ~ Penny Black and JustRite

March: Verve ~ Egg-stra Special

April: Waltzingmouse Stamps ~ Gingham & Co., Back in the Saddle, Text-It, Very Vintage Lables No. 18

May: Waltzingmouse Stamps ~ Gingham & Co., Dainty Doilies Large, Say it Loud, Text-It

June: Verve ~ Dad's Day

June: Waltzingmouse Stamps: Dainty Doilies Large, Say it Loud, Text-It

July: Verve ~ Richly Blessed

August: Waltzingmouse Stamps ~ Teeny Trees, Big Day Essentials

September: Waltzingmouse Stamps ~ Blessed by You, Holiday Label No. 14

October: Verve ~ Glad Tidings

November: Waltzingmouse Stamps ~ Musical Background, Celtic Heritage, Say it Loud - Winter Holiday, Faux Fun Circles, Join Us, Seasons of Love

December: Waltzingmouse ~ Candy Jar Christmas

Thank you so much for visiting!!
Happy New Year, and
Happy Stamping!! :)