Hooray It's Your Day and Creative Blog Hop

Hello Crafty People!

To those of you who are following the Creative Blog Hop, welcome, and thank you for visiting! I was asked by Lisa Tyndall to participate in this hop and I thought it sounded like fun because its different in that you don't go in a circle! She is also a very talented and sweet lady, so make sure you check her out at www.lisatstamps.blogspot.com if you haven't just come from there.

Today I wanted to show you a little more of what I demonstrated last week at the My Stamping Friends event that I attended. OK...my mission was to show you what ELSE you could create with one of the 5 kits Stampin' Up! has featured in the Occasions Catalog. I chose the "Hooray It's Your Day" kit because it's designed for making birthday cards and I think birthday cards are a) the best type of card to go rogue with-they should be created to suit the person for whom they are intended, and b) something that is very EASY to change up just a bit, so there's no re-creating the wheel.

So here's what the kit is INTENDED to create...TWENTY (5 each of 4 designs) super cute, fun, embellished cards, with envelopes. Guess what: all the supplies needed to make these little beauties are included! Easy peasy, right?

Well, what if you don't want to make all 20 of the cards? I made one of each design, and then went to town with the rest of the supplies from the kit. Here is one of the cards I came up with, using a few simple add-ons like linen thread and the Stacked with Love designer series paper stack. I also used the Big Shot and the Alphabet Press embossing folder to add a little interest to the Pumpkin Pie piece.

I used the coordinating stamp set and one of the star clips from the kit, plus a bit of linen thread messily wrapped and stuck down behind the sentiment banner. (This messy wrapping of thread/twine and sticking it down in what appears to be a random manner seems to be quite the trending technique. I've seen it done quite a lot, but this was my first attempt.)

For this Hop I need to answer the four questions below….so here goes!

  
1. What are you working on?  I’m working on projects for a fundraiser crop at my kids' elementary school that is coming up in a couple weeks. I provide a make and take project and also usually create a home decor art piece to be raffled off. I attend the crop every year, though I always get more socializing than scrapbooking done. LOL

2.  How does your work differ from others in your genre? Well, truthfully, it probably doesn't. I create what I am inspired to create, and that inspiration can come from anywhere...a magazine photo, Pinterest, I even once created a card set that looked like a tshirt my daughter was wearing that day.

3.  Why do you create what you do? It may sound selfish, but I create for ME. Creating makes me happy, and is one way that I take care of myself, which enables me to take care of everyone else! (I am married to an angel, and have 4 amazing kiddos and without crafting, I wouldn't have my sanity! Hence, the blog name!) I do also love to create something that will make another person smile, or empower THEM to use crafting to bring a little extra happiness into their own life. CREATE. SHARE. EMPOWER. REPEAT. 

4. How does your creative process work? I am a very big fan of the whole CASE idea which you may remember reading about on Lisa's blog. Copy And Share Everything!  I often struggle with coming up with an idea on my own so I will re-create one or more projects I have seen or heard about until my creative juices get flowing. Then the next few projects are usually a little closer to "original" work. That's another reason I like the kits we offer...it gives you a jumping off point, but still allows you the freedom to stray whenever you get ready.

So, to keep the hop going, I will nominate two people who will post next week. You should head over to each of their blogs now and subscribe, and then you'll have the next link on the blog hop delivered right to you as soon as they post...like clues in a scavenger hunt!

First, I nominate Rose-Ellen Eastman whom I met when she hosted her first Stampin' Up! style Regional Event a little over a year ago. She and I are alike in that (I suspect) creating is how she also manages to keep herself in the right state of mind for handling the any challenges AND blessings that are always being thrown her way. You can find more information on her and see all her beautiful work by clicking HERE to head over to her site, My Stamping Friends. 

My second nominee, I met on the very same day as I met Rose-Ellen, although I had been a follower of hers for quite some time before and didn't realize until that day that she and Rose-Ellen were best buds. Small world, right? So please also show some love to Michelle Suit by clicking HERE to visit her site, Suitably Stamped. P.S. If you love Disney, OR punch art, or heaven forbid DISNEY PUNCH ART, you might wanna pack a lunch before clicking that link! She does some unbelievable things with punches!

Well, I hope you made it to the end of this much-longer-than-usual post. Thanks for stopping by!



Ready to order? Go to www.angelakhan.stampinup.net
Have questions? Email me at sakina716@gmail.com

Hellooo Hoppers! + Blog Candy!

Hey there, Hoppers! Having fun yet? I hope so! If you're hopping along in order, you probably arrived here via the site of the one and only-Tory Bray.

If you'd like to go back to her beautiful site, just click HERE.

For those of you who did not arrive here on your way through the VC Rocks Blog Hop-WELCOME to you also! This is the first blog hop of the short-seasoned VC Rocks group which I am a member of, and I'm so thrilled to be a part of it! Read all the way through for a chance to win some blog candy from me!

For today's project, I did a bit of watercoloring with my Watercolor Crayons and a Blender Pen, and I used a stamp set that I just recently purchased. The stamp set is called Homegrown, and as you might expect, it includes fruits and vegetables! I have wanted this set for a long time, but thought it would not be versatile enough to use for very many occasions, so it kept getting bumped to the bottom of the wishlist. Well, I finally just broke down and ordered it, and I'm glad I did.

As you can see, aside from the watercoloring, I also used my Big Shot machine (can't live without that thing) to texture the Early Espresso piece that is placed behind the images. I love how the textured piece gives the card a little extra dimension. Another thing I love is stamps that coordinate with Stampin' Up! punches! As you can see, the "Homegrown" image fits nicely inside the oval punch, which also layers perfectly into the center of the Decorative Label Punch (another fave). It makes it so easy to dress up a card with layers when the punches go together like that!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed taking a peak at my project!

Become a follower of my blog (subscribe, or click Follow, then enter your email address) for your chance to win the prize.

What is the prize, you ask? Well, it's a set of these cards shown here today, which includes 2 each of the cards you see, plus handmade coordinating designer envelopes, a matching notepad, and pen. This would make a very cute gift for someone-male or female, or you could always keep it on your own desk or craft station!

Ok so...from here you are headed over to The Love of Stamping-a fantastic blog by my fellow Rocker, Barb Furlong.

To get there, just click HERE, and you'll be on your way.

By the way, if you've gotten lost, you can find the complete list of stops and pick up anywhere you like at the VC Rocks homepage.

Just click HERE for that, and you'll be all fixed up!