C4C- Raise the Bar!

This week our Crazy 4 Challenges team is 'raising the Bar' as in our much loved team member Barbara Anders! Barbara is on a crafting break right now due to hand surgery- boo! To help cheer her up and let her know we are thinking of her our challenge this week is to CASE one of Barb's cards from her blog! 

Sounds easy right? NOPE! She has soooo many gorgeous cards it took me forever to pick just one! I settled on this one as I loved the clean lines with the embossed white panel- click here to see which card I am referring to. I flipped the card position but kept most of the design the same. Thanks for the inspiration Barb!!

So to play along with us head on over to Barb's Blog and scroll through all her delicious eye candy and CASE one of her cards and link it up! Also hop over to the C4C blog and see what the rest of the Crazies did with their Barb inspiration!

Cheers- Andrea

Hip Hop with Unity

When I think of Valentine's day I don't just think of red and white I also think of pinks and teals. I mean seriously- pink and teal look so good together! I forgot how much I love that colour combo until this card started coming together! I feel like this card is very much 'Andrea-ized'. Meaning girly colours, flowers, ribbon and bling where ever I can fit it in. Do you have a style you tend to think of as 'your style' more than others? I am always curious to see what other people tend to lean towards. It inspires me!

On my card today I used one of the new Liz Hicks releases- the dinged dots background stamp. And my sentiment panel is actually from this month's Kit of the Month- those kits are chock full of awesome images and sayings. 

And as it is Thursday of course Angela has an amazing sale for you to keep in mind while you are hopping along. And don't forget to leave a comment at each stop for your chance to win some stamps!

Well that's it for me today- back into the craft studio I go! Sadly not to create- but to clean up my crafty mess hee hee! While I get to work pop on over to the Awesome-Sauce Eryn for more crafty inspiration!

Cheers! Andrea

High Hopes Stamps and Ribbon Carousel Blog Hop!

Today we are pairing up with Ribbon Carousel for a fun Blog Hop. Each of the High Hopes DT have used some ribbon from Ribbon Carousel while the Ribbon Carousel DT have each used an image from High Hopes. On my card I used one of the images from the new 2x2 release called Happy Hippos and from the Ribbon Carousel store Random Hearts Satin Ribbon. 

As you hop along each of the blog, be sure to leave a comment because there is candy from both Ribbon Carousel and High Hopes!  You can see the full list of participants below. 

The blog hop runs through 11:59pm EST Friday, January 25th. The winners will be posted on the High Hopes Blog and Ribbon Carousel Blogs on Saturday, January 26th.

Crazy 4 Challenges- C4C168

This week our C4C hostess with the mostess Betty has challenged us to make anything BUT a square or A2 sized card. Gulp. 

I was truly perplexed until I remembered that I have this amazing teacup Sizzix card pattern that had yet to be used- phew!!

This was sooooo fun to make. I just cut out the pieces and folded along the scored lines and glued where the instructions told me. I love when it is so easy even I can do it ;P hee hee.

I have to admit I wanted it to look more 'authentique' so I took a gold pen and added gold foil to the teacup and plate- just like the teacups my Grandma had. I added another die cut, flowers, jewels and it was almost done. I then remembered that in my teacup stamp collection I had a set from Stampin Up with the perfect sentiment and used that plus a cup stamp on the teabag label. 

I have to admit I love it!!

Considering it is hubby's birthday today and I still need to make him a card do you think this one is to girly for him? Maybe a bit hee hee!!!

You have to hop on over to the C4C challenge blog and see the other amazing projects that ladies did to help inspire you out of the 'normal' card size. Thanks Betty for such a fun challenge!

Cheers, Andrea

Unity Release and sale- ANGIEgirls

This week's Hip Hop is celebrating 2 awesome things

for 2 Angie's

First is the new release this week by Angie Blom

and her Unity Girls

These are fantastic stamps for fun cards

or mixed media images

I loved them as soon as I saw them!

I am using 'AndiGirl'

Not sure who suggested that name *cough cough*

hee hee

She was a dream to colour

These are some must have stamps

Second is that we have a birthday in the house...

Our Angela Magnuson is entering the wonderful world of 40

and looking amazing while she does it!

But honestly as beautiful as she is on the outside

She is even more incredibly beautiful on the inside

Love that girl

Happy Birthday Angela!

To celebrate she is offering 40% off storewide

excluding new kit signups

PLUS

every order over $25 gets a free gift

kinda like a goody bag at a party

Next stop on your hop is the immensely talented artist this week

Angie Blom! So proud of you girl!

Please leave a comment at each hop for a chance to win stamps

and also for our lovely Angie's this week

Cheers! Andi (aka Andrea)

High Hopes Stamps Release Day!

Today is the blog hop to celebrate the HHS Double Release. The Dream Team will be showcasing some of the designs from both the "Two by Two" and "Senior Moments" releases. 

Both releases will be available to purchase today. 

There will be candy along the way, but you won't know where. Therefore, make sure you leave a comment at each stop just in case that's the home of the candy!!

The blog hop ends at 7pm EST on Sunday, Jan 13th with the winners being posted on Tuesday.

And now it's time to hop along to the Dream Team's blog for some fun and inspiration...

Kristine

Karen

Alie

Michelle

Aaemie

Lynne

Alex.

Anna

Lacey

Andrea

High Hopes Stamps Sneak Peeks Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the HHS double release. 

Today we are featuring cards with the fun new Seniors stamps!

My cutie patootie above is called 'Online Olive'

there are quite a few sayings that can go with this stamp but in the HHS dream team forum we have been talking about menopause and this sentiment seemed appropriate ha!

Today is also challenge day over at the HHS challenge blog. 

You are to have 'stitching' on your card

I have a confession- I forgot

Right before I went to add my card I saw the challenge and smacked my head!

I had already designed this card as a 'no layer' card so what could I do?

So I had the idea to put a fun square around part of the image

In my head it was PERFECT

Looking at it now perhaps a rectangle would have been better

Oh well- I'm going to blame my forgetfulness on my

pre-menopause lol!

To see more of the hilarious new Seniors stamps and challenge cards click here to go to the HHS challenge blog. 

And may your hot flashes be power surges!

High Hopes Stamps Double Release! Day 1

High Hopes Stamps is having a double release!

Sneak peeks start today and we are starting off with the cute images from the 'Two by Two' line

While they can be used as a Noah's Ark scene or Noah inspired cards

I actually thought of Valentine's Day cards immediately!

And hey...who am I to argue with inspiration ;)

I have to also share that these images stamped like a dream. 

Perfect impression every time

as a stamper who hoards her copic paper this is important lol

To see more of today's sneak peeks hop on over to the HHS challenge blog and see what the HHS Dream Team has to share!

Back tomorrow with more previews!

Andrea

Crazy 4 Challenges is back in swing for 2013

I can't decide which picture I like better ha ha! Yep- call me crazy so I posted both of them. And speaking of CRAZY the C4C gang is back in session after our Winter break. How did you like that segue hee hee!

Our first hostess with the mostess for this year is Betty and she has asked us to put BOWS on our cards. I just have a little wee one with twine. I did have a bigger ribbon on here originally but changed it out to give this a more Valentinesy feel. 

On my card today I used the BEE MINE stamp set from Paper Smooches. One of my top go to companies for stamps. Excellent quality and I adore Kim's font which she uses on all her sets so I tend to snap them up asap. In fact there are very few that I don't have since she started her company! I then used some white glitter corrugated paper from American Crafts- texture and glitter. Perfect match in my books. Oh- and the patterned paper I used was from the 6x6 pack from American Crafts as well called XOXO. Super fun and cute colour combos in this collection. 

Come on over to the C4C challenge blog and see the other samples the Crazies have for you. I am sure you will be 'bowed' over. Ha Ha!

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Andrea

Unity Phyllis Harris Release

I admit it

I have a soft spot for Phyllis Harris images

something about the innocent faces

and windblown hair

brings me back to childhood memories

mine and the ones I got to watch my children make

she really knows how to capture hearts with her designs

This week Unity is releasing new Phyllis stamps

Keep an eye out on the Facebook page and the Website

as a little birdie told me that this weekend at 3pm central

a fantastic deal is going to happen

I should probably start getting my wallet warmed up hee hee

I also remembered to take a picture of the copics I used on this card

the only one missing a sticker is BG96

oops and the skin colours (E000, 00, 11, R01, R20)

Ready for more Phyllis sweetness?

Hop on over to Carisa's blog to see her creation!

It is her first time as a Hip Hopper! 

Welcome to the gang Carisa!

(psst- don't forget to leave a comment at each blog along the way to a chance to win prizes!)

Cheers, Andrea