Swag Bucks Earn You FREE Crafty Stuff!

Hello!  Have you heard of swag bucks?  I hadn't either until about a year ago.  Swag bucks is a search engine tool, that when used, can earn you swag bucks.  The amount always differs and is totally random.  As you accumulate swag bucks, you can redeem them for prizes and gift cards to places like Amazon, Pay pal, Macy's and many more!  I always get the amazon and pay pal.  I use my pay pal bucks towards my crafty supplies (amazon too!).  I also have saved up a bunch to use toward my Christmas shopping this year.

There is absolutely NO CATCH.  You basically earn FREE stuff for searches you would do anyway!  The swagbucks tool bar does not take the place of your regular tool bar.  I just add mine underneath.  Easy Peasy!

I know I have shared this in the past with people, but wanted to do so again!  I have earned HUNDREDS of dollars in free gift cards in just one year using this tool bar!

Click on the banner above to get started earning free stuff (stamps, paper and embellishments to name a few)!

Emily

EIC112-Inspired by BeiLeXian

 Stamps:  The Stamps Of Life-Icons4us

Ink:  black

Paper:  white, black, red CS

Hello!  Time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge!  This week's shop for your inspiration is BeiLeXion.  They have some super sweet, whimsical prints for your inspiration.  I was inspired by the print below:

This week our sponsor is Sweet & Sassy Stamps.  To play along, find inspiration in the BeiLeXion shop and then post your creation on the EIC blog.  Ashley will pick two random winners next week.  One person will win an $18.00 print of their choice from BeileXion shop and another will win a $15 gift card to the Sweet & Sassy shop.



Hope you find time to play along this week!

Emily

FWF

Here is the last of my WCMD challenge cards.  I won a free stamp for this card!  HOORAY!  The sentiment is from the April 2010 in store kit.  I used a stitching template from K&Company and some green embroidery thread from my stash.  I will keep this short and sweet so you can move on to the next FWF blog!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

North Woods Stamps on SALE at Paper Maniac!

Stamps:  North Woods-Chickakees on Pine Oval

Paper:  Sage Shadow (SU), watercolor paper, brown DP Crate Paper Restoration collection

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  Hand dyed seam binding, twigs, chalks for watercoloring

Hello! This week at Paper Maniac all North Woods stamps are 25% off!! I have always loved watching the chickadees in winter, so this one had to be mine!  This stamp is actually quite large and measures 4" x 4.75". 

I hadn't used my watercolor paper or chalks in a long time, so that is the medium I used to color this image.  I went back and added some sparkle to the snow with a Sakura stardust pen, but you can't really see it in this photo.  Make sure you check out all of the fabulous projects this week by the DT with North Woods stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

The Stamps of Life-Monograms!

Second card is out for Publication!

Hello!  Today I have two cards using the newly released monogram2build and alpha4monogram sets by The Stamps Of Life.  I used my Crate Paper Restoration DP for both of these cards.  On the first one I used a sewing machine to stitch around the panels, and the second card I used a paper doily behind my monogram stamped on the doily cut from the Crate Paper DP.
When you make monogram cards, do you like to use your last name initial or first name?  I do both, but I think I prefer my first name, since it seems more personal.  My mom disagrees! LOL!  She thinks it should be your last name if you are just using one letter, but maybe she is a bit old fashioned?!?
I am fighting some nasty intestinal virus, so don't know how much creating I will do today.

I hope you all are well, and thanks so much for stopping by!

Emily

H{ippity} Hop-Recycled Denim...

Hello!  Happy H{ippity} Hop Monday!  Today I have a couple more cards that I made for the WCMD challenges hosted by Unity.  I decided to show both of the cards I made with some denim embellishments.  I love that handmade embellies on cards is so popular right now.  I have plenty of old jeans from my boys, that I can recycle in so many creative ways.
I cut out the seam and used that on my first card along with the bird stamp from  the ippity set, Totally Happy, Distressed Dots and a sentiment from the July KOTM.
For the second card, I used some denim to make a rolled flower.  I added a button to the center.  I used the scallop border stamp from Melody Ross, One of A Kind set and the quote from the ippity set, Delightful Little Things.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Double Challenge Card!

Stamps:  The Stamps Of Life-Monogram2build

Ink:  Soft Suede, Distress Inks in old paper and Walnut Stain

Paper:  Crate Paper Restoration collection, Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:  Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Prima yellow roses, vintage button

Hello!  Here is a card I made for two challenges.  The first is the embellish challenge.  For this challenge you are to make a vintage themed card using the colors rust, yellow and green.

The next challenge is the challenge over at Oh, Alice.  For this challenge the game of chess is the inspiration.  I decided my rust, checked paper would qualify since I own no Alice or chess type images or paper.  This week, Paper Maniac is sponsoring the Oh, Alice challenge!  If you play along, you could win a $20 GC to the PM store!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

EIC111-Vintage Love....

It's Saturday, so time for another EIC challenge!  This week's shop is Stiletto Heights.  They have some beautiful, feminine vintage looking prints.  I will admit that I already had this card made, but when I looked at this week's shop, I had to post this card with it!  Below you will find a sample of the art in this shop.

Beautiful, huh?

This week our sponsor is Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps.  They have some super cute images for all of you who LOVE to color!

Please make sure you link your project on the EIC blog.  You will also want to check out the wonderful discount codes on the EIC blog to BOTH of these shops!

Two random winners will be chosen next Friday.  One person will win two prints of their choice from Stiletto Heights, and someone else will win a $15 store credit to Sparkle Creations!

Have fun creating something beautiful!  I am anxious to see all of the cool vintage looking things people come up with!

Emily

FWF-Unity LOVE

HELLO!

TGIF...right?

Today I have some cards with a LOVE theme!  Thought it was fitting to show how much I {heart} Unity!  How about that new website?  Fabulous!  Go check it out if you haven't already.  

Both cards above use stamps from the August 2010 KOTM.  The "happily ever after" is from the July KOTM.

No big plans today.  This evening we are making homemade apple and pumpkin pie (requested by one of my 4  year olds).  For one whole week, that is all he can talk about is making pumpkin and apple pie, so I thought we would do just that!  Should be interesting, messy and so much fun!  I will try to post some photos later!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Paper Maniac is sponsoring EBTKS challenge!

Hello!  Today I made a card for the EBTKS challenge based on the sketch below.  Make sure you play along this week because Paper Maniac is sponsoring!  One lucky person will win a $20 gift certificate to the store!  I used papers from Echo Park's, Everybody Loves Christmas collection which is available at Paper Maniac.  I added some chunky red glitter around the sentiment box.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Wanna FREE Halloween kit?

Hello all of you Paper Maniacs!  If you get the newsletter, then you already know about the FABULOUS Halloween kit giveaway.  If you don't subscribe to the newsletter, then you definitely are going to want to sign up so that you can see photos of this wonderful Halloween card making kit.  For every order over $100, you get a kit packed full of wonderful Bazzill cardstock, ribbons, rub ons, designer paper from Echo Park, Basic Grey, Pink Paislee, SRM stickers and more!  If your order is over $150, then you will get an add on kit that includes stamps to match your papers from Basic Grey, Pink Paislee, glitter and more!

All of the cards above are made using supplies from these kits! (the card I made in the previous post is made with supplies from this kit too If you have a big wish list, now is the time to get that order in so you can score these FREE kits!

Thanks for Stopping by!

Emily

Tuesday Trigger-Momento Mori

Hello!  Today's Tuesday Trigger is this old, spooky looking tombstone.  I was inspired by the whole Halloween theme and made a very CAS, muted color kind of card.

I used some Basic Grey Eerie DP for the front of my card.  I simply scored across the top of the panel and then folded it down to expose the reverse side (the orange strip).  I applied a rub on from Pink Paislee's Twilight collection and tied on some black burlap string.  Easy Peasy!

Thanks for stopping by and for all of your sweet, supportive comments yesterday.  It means the world to me!

Hugs!

Emily

H{ippity} Hop-Your Smile Lifts Me!

Hello!  Happy Hippity Hop!  Here is a card I thought I would share that I made a couple of weeks ago for the WCMD challenge with the theme of "soar".  I knew right away that I wanted to use my Webster's Pages, Postcards From Paris paper and this ippity sentiment.  I added some seam binding and bling and colored in the Smile.  The sentiment is from the set, Quotes a la Happy.

On a side note...It is very disheartening when someone totally CASE's your card and then gives you ZERO credit for the idea.  I know it happens all the time in our paper crafting corner of the world, but it has happened to me more than once this month.  I am always so flattered when someone likes my work enough to CASE me, but it is a whole different story entirely when someone takes that idea and work as there own.

Just me blowing off steam....

I am off to go look at some ippity and Unity goodness!

Emily

EIC110-Inspired by Halloween!

 

Time for another Etsy  Inspired Challenge!  This week's shop is our very own Kerry's Capturing Creativity.  Kerry has some super adorable cards in her shop and wonderful kits for card making.  I was inspired by the Halloween kit above.

edit:  Oops!  I didn't include my card ingredients!  I had a couple of emails asking me what papers I used.  I believe that the purple pleated paper and the polka dot paper is Pink Paislee's Twilight and the orange cob web paper is BG's Eerie.  The stamp is from ippity's That's Creepy set.  The cut out bat is from Echo Park's Happy Halloween collection and I added chunky black glitter around the circle.  I think it is older and I bought it at Wal-Mart years ago! 

Kerry is also our sponsor this week and has some lovely prizes to give away.  You can take a peek at the prizes HERE.  As always you need to link your creation to the EIC blog.  Next Friday, Ashley will pick two random winners for the above prizes!  Good Luck!

Have fun creating something beautiful!

Emily

FWF-I {heart} Unity!

I have plenty of cards to share after doing 23 challenges for Unity's WCMD celebration!  I am keeping my fingers crossed to be the lucky winner of an entire year of free kits!  OMGosh, I would be in heaven!  I am sure that there will be plenty of fabulous inspiration on the hop today!  Check out a list of all the participants on the Unity blog HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Paper Maniac LOVES Unity!!!!

Stamps:  Unity Melody Ross kit-One Of A Kind

Paper:  Neenah CS

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

This week Paper Maniac is featuring all things Unity!  It is no big secret that I love Unity stamps and the Unity company.  Paper Maniac has a huge selection of Unity stamps.  I wish  I could buy them all!  Make sure you check out the PM blog to see all of the wonderful cards being made by the DT this week!

TFL!

Emily

Merry Wishes!

Hello!  I have a Christmas card today using the newly released set, Christmas2build by The Stamps Of Life.  I colored the little Christmas tree with Prisma Pencils and then punched and layered it.  I used DP from Making Memories Fa la la la la collection.  I stamped the sentiment from this set with brown ink.  I love that you can mix and match the sentiments in this set!  I tied some burlap string around and added a rusty jingle bell I found at an antique store last year.

I am so excited that my twins are finally getting over their nasty GI virus.  We have been dealing with all night vomiting and diarrhea for over a week now!!!  Took them to the doctor yesterday and she said that they probably have rota virus, and that they would probably start feeling better soon.  Wouldn't you know...today they are like brand new boys!  I have been busy cleaning and disinfecting the house, so card making may be limited for me today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Hippity Hop-Where there is love...

With all of the Unity WCMD challenges, I have many cards too share!  The first one is for the paper piecing challenge.  I pieced the quilt with papers from Cosmo Cricket's Togetherness collection.  I also used this week's sketch challenge over on SCS for this card.  The stamps are from the ippity set, Quotes a la Happy.

 My next card is for the USCWCMD16-to incorporate a tag on your card.  I used the ippity set, That's Creepy for this card.  I also used some Pink Paislee Twilight DP.  I added some orange rhinestones to the witch hat.  The orange and green paper is Bazzill.  The purple grosgrain ribbon and black burlap string is from May Arts.

My last card today is for the USCWCMD03-a color challenge based on the Echo Park Merry Christmas collection.  I just so happened to have this fabo paper pack, so this one was easy!  I cut out along the bottom row of circles to create the scallop border.  I used stamps from the ippity set, Kissmas & Mistletoe.  I added a rhinestone to the center of the snowflake and then used chunky glass type glitter in silver around the edge.  I love the vintage look of this!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I appreciate all of your lovely comments!
Hugs!

Emily

Some more Christmas cards!

Hello!  I have a couple more cards using this months club set from The Stamps Of Life.  I am in love with the font in the Holly4Christmas set!  I also like how big the sentiments are, so that they can be the focus of the card.  My second card uses the lights from Holly4Christmas, but the sentiment is from Christmas2build-a new release for this month!

I am super organized this year for the holidays!  I have all of my Halloween cards ready to go, I have all three boys Halloween costumes and all of the accessories they need, and I have gotten a big start on my Christmas cards!  I have even started my Christmas shopping!!!!!

It seems like raising twins has gotten a lot easier just in the past couple of months.  I don't know what has changed, but I am feeling a lot more organized and in control.  I am hanging art back up on the walls (one of the twins was a major climber and loved to knock anything that was hanging down).  I am even going to put the end tables back in the family room, and dare I buy new lamps for those tables? (Those were broken years ago by one of the boys)  I feel like I am re-claiming my home! LOL!  No more gates, some of the child locks have come off of cabinets, but not all of them yet!  Very liberating, I tell ya!  Just thought I would share!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

EIC109-Inspired by flower earrings!

Time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge!  This week the shop for your inspiration is Lemon Kissed.  They have some really beautiful earrings and pendants to inspire you!  I used some American Crafts Rose ribbon on my card above.  I also used a circle stamp from the sentiments4circles set by The Stamps Of Life.  I created scallops with the circles. I was inspired by the earrings below.

This week our sponsor is Pholkart Blessings.  They have some super cute digi images in their shop!  To play along you just have to make a card or project inspired by something in the Lemon Kissed shop.  Make sure you link it on the EIC blog HERE for a chance at several prizes.  One winner will win a pair of THESE earrings in the color of their choice from Lemon Kissed.  Another winner will receive 5 free digis from Pholkart Blessings.  Ashley will pick random winners next Friday!

Hope you get a chance to play!

Emily

FWF-Frazzled Dream Bird!

Hello!  Today I have a card that I made for the "no patterned paper" challenge for Unity's WCMD challenge extravaganza!  I used stamps from Unity's August 2010 KOTM.  I inked my Birds & Swirls CB folder with white ink before running it through the CB.  I also filled in the depressed areas with a white gel pen, to make them stand out more.  I distressed the edges of the kraft panel and inked the edges of all the paper on my card with distress inks.  I added some ruffled satin ribbon to the bottom.

Here is another card for the distressing challenge.  This card was published in embellish magazine's premiere issue!  I think it has been long enough that I can share it on my blog now!

Thanks for looking!  Off to make some more challenge cards!

Emily

More TSOL Holly4Christmas!

Hello!  Here is another card I made using Holly4Christmas, the new monthly club set from The Stamps Of Life!  After stamping the ornament in black and red, I added some silver glitter (PK Glitz) to the top of the ornament.  I love the cute little ornament hanger stamp in this set.  I colored in the letters of the sentiment with a red Copic marker and added a black satin ribbon to the top. 

I think this would make a really elegant, classy invite to a Christmas Party.  I may use this for our neighborhood progressive dinner party.  I could have the line up typed inside as to who's house we will start at and who is fixing what course.  Fun, fun, fun!  Maybe we could just have a progressive cocktail party!  Always a fun idea if everyone can find sitters for the  kiddos!

If you are a club member, you are probably already stamping away with this fabulous new set.  If you aren't a club member...why not sign up today?  You will not regret it!  The most affordable stamp club on the market!

Have a great day!

Emily

Blog Award Thank You's!

Some of these thank you's are a little late, but I wanted to recognize three lovely ladies who gave me these blog awards.  Thank you so much ladies!

 I received this award from Emily Leiphart.  If you have not ever visited her blog, head on over and feast your eyes on some GORGEOUS CAS work.  I love her clean style, and her coloring is AMAZING!

This award was given to me by the sweet Emily Keaton.  Emily has become a great blogging and SCS friend!  She has great style and is the queen of challenges!  I am in awe of the gorgeous challenge cards she makes every week!

Last but not least, I received this award from Judi Rose.  Judi is an amazing stamper, and I have been a big fan of her work for several years.  Judi was bestowed with the honor of being inducted into the Dirty Dozen this month.  She is soooooooo deserving!  Check out her blog and congratulate her while you are there!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for these fabulous awards, ladies!

Great big hugs and smiles,

Emily

Paper Maniac Goodies!

Paper:  Neenah CS; Echo Park Merry Christmas collection

Accessories:  Kaiser rhinestones

Hello!  I have a couple of cards for you that are quick and easy!  The first one has NO STAMPING!  I utilized the fab paper and journal boxes in the Echo Park Merry Christmas collection.  I love me some Echo park! LOL!  I just added some rhinestones along the bottom panel, but the paper speaks for itself!

Paper:  kraft CS; Neenah CS; Crate Paper Restoration  collection

Ink:  Old Paper Distress ink

Accessories:  Kaiser Rhinestones; Nestabilites Labels 15; Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps-Altered Fairies

This second card uses a vintage image and sentiment from the Creative Scraps Altered Fairies collection.  I used my distress ink to sponge my nestie shape and glued the angel girl in the middle.  I love that this sheet of images comes with matching sentiments that you can cut out. 

If you are in need of ribbon make sure you stock up!  Paper Maniac is having a 25% off sale on all ribbon.  The best part is that you can buy almost all of the ribbon by the yard!  Get as little or as much as you need!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily

Season of Blessings...

Hello!  Today I made a card using the color challenge over on SCS-Razzleberry, Saffron and Tangerine.  I was excited to use some older stamps and even older Daisy D patterned paper.  Love it when I use older product.  I can then justify all of my newer purchases! LOL!  The sentiment is from an older Unity KOTM and the pumpkin is from the ippity set, Fall for You.

This card is also for Christi's World Card Making Day challenge.  You can find the details HERE.

For the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger I was inspired by the beautiful fall colors.  It also reminded me of the pumpkin farms and festivals we visit every autumn!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emilly

H{ippity} Hop-Happy Holidays!

Happy Hip Hop!  I am in the Holiday spirit, and have enjoyed making some Christmas cards with my Season Of Joy set.  I was also excited to use some of my yummy new Jovial BG paper.  I cut out one of the reindeer from the DP and glued it to the nestie shape.  I stamped the Happy Holidays in Soft Suede and the snowflake in Bermuda Bay.  I added a vintage looking rhinestone to the center of the snowflake.  I sponged walnut stain and old paper distress inks around the edges of my Nestie shape.

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Emily

The Stamps Of Life October Club Release-Holly4Christmas!!!!!

Please scroll down for newer posts!  This will stay at the top for the rest of the week!  Thanks!

Hello!  Can it really be October 1st?  Geesh!  The beginning of the month means the new club release from The Stamps of Life.  This may just be one of my favorites to date!  This set is called Holly4Christmas and is FABULOUS!  I love the wonderful font of the sentiment along with the larger size of the sentiments!  I have more cards to show you but I thought I would start by showing you this ornament I made.
I used papers from Memory Box's Mistletoe collection and covered a kraft paper mache ornament from Hobby Lobby.  I also covered a chipboard bird with paper from this collection.  I stamped "joy" on the front and the sentiment on the back.  The sentiment is colored in with a red copic and the holly on the back is paper pieced.  I added a gold tinsel ribbon trim around the perimeter.

This set sells for $12.95, but if you are a club member, it is only $10.95.  Shipping is $1.00!  You can't beat that price!  Below you will find a photo of this wonderful set!

Have a Fabulous Friday!

Emily

EIC108-Soap Inspired!

Hello! Time for another Etsy Inspired Challenge!  This week's shop for your inspiration is Two Eggplants Company.  They make the cutest novelty soaps.  I love that there are lots of choices for boys.  Legos, Star Wars, and aliens to name a few.  Since it is close to Halloween, I chose the spider soap below as the inspiration for my card.  I used paper from My Mind's Eye Haunted collection.  I love the black flocking on this paper.  I also love the black and kraft together!  BIG LOVE!

Our sponsor this week is Pink Cat Studios.  They have both adorable stamps and digi images!  They are offering a prize of 5 digi images to a random winner.  Ashley will choose a random winner next Friday.  Make sure you link up your project on the EIC blog HERE, for a chance to win.

Have a great weekend!

Emily

FWF-Our Happy Home

Happy Friday!  Today I have a card made with some Unity and ippity!  What a perfect combination!  The sentiment is from the ippity set, House A Home and the house is from a KOTM but I can't remember which one!  I used a Tim Holtz embossing folder for the red panel and added some doodling, burlap string and a heart button.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily