Friends With Flair Friday!

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(Psst - There's Unity in there!)
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OMGosh, I can't believe how long it's been since my last Unity FWF! Now that I'm back from my little hiatus, I figged it was time.


For this card, I wanted a slight departure from what I've been doing lately. Gotta keep it fresh, right? And I thought Unity's Brave Girl set was just the ticket. I love the vintage look of this kit and know I'll get a ton of use from this set. I kept it fairly simply, and tried not to use my Copics, but they snuck their way in for the dress. I custom colored the doily with a mix of chalk pigment and Distress Ink to coordinate with the ribbon. Her butterfly wings are highlighted with Shimmerz.

For more fabulous creations, please pop over to the Unity Stamps blog for a complete list of today's FWF stops.

Have a great weekend!


Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. - Brave Girl kit
Pattern Papers: Basic Grey - Nook 'n Pantry 12x12
Embellishments: vintage buttons, twine, Making Memories ribbon, Little Yellow Bicycle - doily
Inks: Memento - Rich Cocoa; VersaMagic; Tim Holtz Distress Ink
Cardstocks: Papertrey Ink - Rustic White; kraft card base - local source

Chapter 15: New ideas are SWIRLING..doors are opening...all in our little WONDERLAND...

"It's no use talking about it," Alice said, looking up at the house and pretending it was arguing with her. `I'm not going in again yet. I know I should have to get through the Looking-glass again -- back into the old room -- and there'd be an end of all my adventures!' So, resolutely turning back upon the house, she set out once more down the path, determined to keep straight on till she got to the hill. For a few minutes all went on well, and she was just saying, `I really shall do it this time -- ' when the path gave a sudden twist and shook itself (as she described it afterwards), and the next moment she found herself actually walking in at the door..."

Hello everyone!

Alice's journeys in Wonderland are all about opening new doors and beginning new adventures. I can't believe 15 Chapters and weekly challenges have flown by so fast! But like Alice, it is time for me to leave Wonderland, at least for a little while. Also bidding the tea party a fond farewell this week are:

Betty Roberts (visit me tomorrow and you'll see why)

Lisa Hjulberg (see above)

Mary Giles

Pam Varnell

Before you get sad with me and starting crying in your tea, there's a lot to look forward to. Stay tuned to Oh, Alice next week for the June Tea Party Guest's first challenge (be sure to visit Oh, Alice to see who won the spot) and also for a VERY exciting announcement as there may be a few new place settings at the table... CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER!!!

As if that weren't enough excitement, we are also happy to welcome LITTLE PAPER SHOP as our Sponsor! The very generous Julia has not only let the DT play with this adorably cute ALICE digi stamp, but is offering a $15 Gift Certificate to the LPS shop to one lucky winner this week! We can't thank Julia enough for this fabulous sponsorship.

Our Challenge this week is a fun one! Since we have so many ideas "SWIRLING" around in our heads, we want you to USE SWIRLS on your card/project this week. You can use DP, stamps, bling, whatever swirls up your own creativity! You have until Friday, June 4th at 8pm CST to upload your card/creation at Oh, Alice.

For my card, I decided to really swirl things around, by literally taking Alice back to her roots. I read recently that the real Alice had brown hair, not the blonde locks we are accustomed to seeing and usually associate with Alice. So I will exit Wonderland in true Alice style - on a slightly defiant note: Brunettes are smarter and have more imagination. ;)

Yours through the looking-glass,


Image(s): Little Paper Shop - Alice
Pattern Papers: We R Memory Keepers -Tiffany's Collection
Cardstock: local source
Embellishments: SU! hardware, ribbon
Tools: CB Swirls embossing folder, Spellbinders Labels 4, fine grit sandpaper
Colored with Copics

H{ippity} Hop & Growing in Unity

Happy Monday! As usual I am running a bit late (sorry!), but I am still so excited - especially for a Monday - because not only is it {Ippity} Monday, but it's also the start of my week for "Growing In Unity" - which is extra special to me, since the whole concept was started by my friend, Michelle.


This is also a special card because it is going to a friend who's husband is fighting for his life. Friend, I love you, I am praying with you, and I know God is with you. And that's why I chose this set, What Matters Most, to work with first. The cross is beautiful and the Psalm that is quoted is dear to my heart, as I'm sure it is to most of the faithful.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

I was also thinking of by my new, dear friend Lisa at Stampin' Sisters In Christ. This week's challenge, inspired by another Psalm, Psalm 139:13, is to "knit together" by using stitching. ETA: Stitching is also the theme of the weekly Ippity Challenge (IHHC22) on SCS in the Ippity Forum this week!
I hope you are enjoying the {Ippity} Hippity Hop goodness! You can find the list of participating blogs HERE. And I hope you'll visit me all this week for more Growing in Unity!

May you have a Blessed Monday,

Image(s): Ippity - What Matters Most
Pattern Papers: Crate Paper - Brook
Cardstock: local sources
Embellishments: Cloud 9 Rain Dots - gold; Hero Arts Crystal (center of cross) - citron green; Karen Foster Scrappers Floss

ALL ABOARD (woot, woot!) FOR A NEW BUSY BEAUTIES ADVENTURE!!!!!

********Scroll down for Oh, Alice post********

WELCOME! Today is a very BIG day for us, and we are way beyond excited! We hope you’ll join us on a fabulous journey as we travel through Wonderland with awesome new ALICE INSPIRED IMAGES from the Busy Beauties Boutique! Along the way, we’re also welcoming our April Guest DT SUSAN! Our final destination is our BRAND NEW BLOG: The Busy Beauties Creation Station!!!!! The adventure begins right here!


For my card, I used the BBB Caterpillar image. I love the idea of change, and what better symbolism than the transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. Not to mention, I couldn't resist this adorable little guy! :D

As always, we have HOP PRIZES! There will be 3 winners chosen from the comments left on certain DT blogs, but it's a secret which blogs we'll draw from! The prize for these winners is their choice of 1 Free BBB Image! So be sure to leave some love all along the way! Blog Hop Winners will be announced Sunday night on the Creation Station blog. And there is a prize package for the randomly selected winner of our Inaugural Challenge, so be sure to check that out at the end of the hop!

Your next stop is our fabulous Guest Susan! Enjoy the ride and when you finally arrive at the Creation Station, you’ll see our Inaugural Challenge is posted and waiting for you!

Happy Hugs,


PS- I'll be back later today to add another card that uses the new BBB Alice image!

Chapter 7: We're All M.A.D. Here...

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked."Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.""How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice."You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here..."

This week, we are gettin' our M.A.D. (Monochromatic And Distressed) with THE GREETING FARM!! Marie has generously offered her new line of Alice-inspired stamps, The Creepy Cakes to the DT and a FABULOUS prize of THREE FREE Creepy Cakes Digital Images OR ONE Rubber Single to ONE LUCKY WINNER! Thanks Marie!

We're also MAD about our APRIL TEA PARTY GUEST! Please join us in welcoming Kim Howard, a.k.a. BASEMENT STAMPER to our Twisted Tea party this month! She's been curiouser and curiouser to get started and we're happy to have her at our twisted little table :)

I was soooooo thrilled about this challenge theme!!! I've wanted to try my hand at a monochromatic card for a very long time, and of course, I love distressing! (My name is Catherine, and if I weren't a Christian, Tim Holtz would be my "god"!) Surprisingly, no Tim products were used to make this card! Say what?!? It's true! Much to my shame, I've misplaced my TH Distress Tool! I love that little gizmo like you wouldn't believe, so needless to say that distressing without it caused me quite a bit of distress and definitely increased the challenge of the challenge! (Did you follow all of that?!? LOL) Fret not. I now have a new relationship with my Cutterpede Scissors :) which I also used to distress the satin ribbon - something new and fun that popped into my head at 2:00 a.m. the other night. Gotta love midnight stamping - you tend to lose your inhibitions/fear when you're tired and working the wee hours. (And if this post is any indication, you also tend to lose your edit function and ramble incessantly! LOL) But I do want to share one more tidbit about this card. 1. This is my first purple card is ages! Purple can be a tricky color and I've shied away from it in the past. But I had to give it a shot because of this gorgeous paper, which I had actually bought when I was undecided about a previous challenge to use a caterpillar or butterfly. The added bonus is that this card totally reminds me of our beloved Mad-Hatter, Jessica (aka The Whimsical Butterfly), who was kind enough to invite me along on this wonderful adventure! (Love ya, Jess!)


I can't wait to see your Monochromatic And Distressed creation! You have until Friday, April 9th at 8pm CST to enter using Mr. Linky on the Oh, Alice Blog. The winner will be chosen and announced during next week's challenge! If you upload to a public gallery please use keyword OAC7.

Madly yours,


Image(s): The Greeting Farm - Freaky Flutter; Hero Arts Sentiment
Pattern Papers: Kaiser Kraft
Cardstock: local source
Embellishments: Sakura Gelly Roll Pen; Nesties; MFT and misc. buttons; American Crafts satin ribbon
Colored with Copics

H{ippity} Hopping...just later

I can just tell this week is going to be...interesting and unpredictable. LOL! I went home yesterday with this plan in mind:

1. eat dinner

2. post Ippity card

3. get some extra, hopefully healing, sleep

My evening actually went:

1. eat dinner

2. fall asleep on couch

3. snap a less than great picture in less than ideal lighting

4. be unable to get online

5. give up and go to bed

Eesh! So there you have it - my much belated H{ippity} Hop card. TFL!

Hugs,

Image(s): {ippity} - What Matters Most
Pattern Papers: October Afternoon - Farm Fresh
Cardstock: Bazzill texture & local sources
Embellishments: printed twill tape (possibly Making Memories); chipboard heart (retired SU); pink twine
Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa
Colored with Copics

Fresh Brewed Fun Food Hop

Happy Monday! I'm so honored to be a Guest DT for my friend Heather today for the release of her Fun Food images from FRESH BREWED DESIGNS. They are so cute and so easy to work with, I just know you're going to eat them up! (teehee!) The fun official starts with Mary, and you'll want to visit all of the stops because you'll be collecting a word or two from each blog on the hop and emailing them to Heather to be entered into the prize drawing. If you are arriving here from my dear Carolyn's blog, then you are on the right trail.


Your next stop is Jenn, but before you go, please write down this word: ORDER. Have fun and enjoy the show!

Hugs & blessings,


Image(s): Fresh Brewed Designs- Crack Me Up
Pattern Papers: October Afternoon - Farm Fresh
Cardstock: local source
Embellishments: white eyelet lace
Colored with Copics

Happy H{ippity} Monday!

Hello! Sorry I'm running a bit late today. The card I have to share is actually a companion to a faith-booking page I'm working on (and late with, as it was supposed to be the page for February). I know everyone is looking forward to spring, so I hope it's not too much of a bother to look back a month. But in reality, I think it and this set called "What Matters Most" is about stopping to look all around you, right where you are.

Anyway, I thought this card was timely because lately everything is so busy - work, family, stamping, etc. And this is just a reminder to myself and (I hope you don't mind) to you, to not let ourselves get bogged down in the errands and deadlines, the hustle and the bustle. We just need to tend to what matters most to us - God and the people and places He's given us to love.

Hope you your enjoying a bright and beautiful day! For more inspiration, please check out the {Ippity} Blog, where you'll find a whole list of happy hop stops.

Hugs,


Image(s): {ippity} - What Matters Most
Pattern Papers: SU
Cardstock: local source
Embellishments: MFT buttons - Chocolate Kiss Asst.
Colored with Copics and Gelly Roll Pen

I've got {Ippity}, yes I do!

What's a Unity addict to do when both her KOM and new {Ippity} arrive on the same day?!?!? On the eve of Friends With Flair, no less?!?!?!? Talk about a dilemma!

In the end, I just couldn't resist using the amazing new {Ippity} set that I won from sweetie-pie and {Ippity} girl, JenMarie! Thanks, JM!

This card is doing double duty as a belated b-day card for a very dear friend who shares my love of green and orange. You know who you are! *wink*


I got a little kick out of the buttons. The purple one has a woodgrain pattern, and the lime green one is shaped like a flower. (Yes, I'm easily amused at 3 a.m. LOL!)

Hope you enjoy bopping along with all the FWF players - you can find them listed on the newly remodeled, I-didn't-think-it-could-get-any-cuter Unity Blog! Have a fab Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Image(s): {Ippity} - Where You Should Be; sentiment from Studio G clear set
Pattern Papers: Basic Grey - Sugar Rush
Cardstock: local source
Embellishments: Bag-O-Buttons - Foof-a-La; PTI twine
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Layout: SC266
Challenge: IHHC12

Walking in a Winter Wonderland....with Unity FWF!

ETA: Lorie is the winner! Congrats, Miss Lorie! I'll be putting some Unity goodness in the mail to you this week! Must be kismet because I'm entering this card in the Stamping Around challenge that Lorie is hostessing. :D

I'll be back later today with an FBD new release! Stay tuned. :D
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Happy 2010! What better way to start the new year than with Unity's Friends With Flair, right? :D Be sure to head over to the Unity Blog for the list of participating stampers and be on the look out for the FWF blinkie! Leave a comment for me before noon EST tomorrow, and you'll be entered into my drawing for some Unity rubbah and images. (See - told ya I'd have another giveaway this week!)

Winter has definitely arrived here in Ohio, so it's no wonder that all I wanna do is make snow cards! I'm also totally hooked on the Joyride collection from Collage Press, and green being my favoritest color, this paper just makes my heart sing! For fun, I strung the snowflakes on twine and hung them from the top of the card - kind of like we'd hang props for a high school play. Ah, those were the days! LOL!


Hugs & love,


Image(s): Unity - Snow-one Like You, Wordsworth - Seuss Tree
Pattern Papers: Collage Press - Joyride collection
Cardstock: local source
Embellishments: metallic snowflakes, PTI twine, ribbon, Stickles
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aloe, VersaMagic white
Colored with Copics

Firsts

Finally, a card post!

This was for my BFF's son's 1st B-day! And also, the first time using this stamp and stitching a card - not faux stitching! Actual stitching with thread and needle. I roughed up this card quite a bit, and boy was it fun! (Pun intended!) ETA: I hope you know I meant the sewing to be messy! LOL! Oh, and I can't sew with a machine (just not that gifted!), so it was done by hand. Not nearly as bad as it sounds!

I had another b-day card to post, but alas, auto focus was not my friend and it didn't turn out :(

Hoping to get some more creations cranked out for your viewing pleasure soon!