PP Hop - Lawren's Birthday!

Merry Christmas!!  And Happy Birthday Lawren!  It's a Prettie birthday and we're hoppin' in style!  I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families!  Make sure that you hop all the way through and wish Lawren a happy day!  Kristine is your next stop!

(YES, this is an older card because YES I forgot.  Heck, I was wrapping gifts yesterday at 4:30 in the afternoon, so don't judge).  :)  

365 Cards - Day 291

It's Friday, Friday!  I am ready!  Here's a fun challenge to jump start your creativity for the upcoming days from 365 Cards.


The challenge today is "Diamonds and Pearls".  You must include the diamond shape somewhere (can even be patterned paper) and at least THREE pearls.  I went with a Christmas theme since it's still that time!!  This is one of my favorite little stamps, so much fun and sweet to boot!  Season of Joy from Paper Pretties.  

I colored the image with colored pencils and Gamsol.  The diamonds are in this SU patterned paper.  The background paper is from The Paper Studio.  Pearls along all the scalloped edges of the center oval.  Sentiment on the inside.  


Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your projects! 

PWC182 - A Color Challenge

Happy Wednesday! Are you ready for the Prettie Wednesday Challenge?! I bet you are!  If you play along with us you could WIN!   Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC184), your challenge is to make a card using white and one other color.  Gotta love a good color challenge!  To play along, just make a card using white and one other color, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution:

Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the day's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

365 Cards - Day 284

It's Friday, Friday.  WOOT!  I am definitely ready!  Here's a fun challenge to jump start your creativity for the upcoming days from 365 Cards.


The challenge today is to create a mosaic on your card using small pieces of paper.  Since "abstract" and I are *not* friends, I chose to make a nice tiled pattern for my mosaic background.  All the better to show off this fantastic image from Paper Pretties - love this baby boy set.  Currently out of stock but check back to the website soon to get yours!

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your projects! 

PWC183 - Let's Get Sketchy

Happy Wednesday! Are you ready for the Prettie Wednesday Challenge?! I bet you are!  If you play along with us you could WIN!   Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC183) it's another amazing sketch from our own Prettie Girl, Frances!  You know I love a good sketch.  To play along, just make a card using our awesome sketch, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution using  an oldie but goodie - Trim the Tree Sophia.  We are getting ready for Christmas around here -- are you??  

And here is the sketch, you can check how I did: 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the day's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

PWC182 - Thanks!

Happy Wednesday! Are you ready for the Prettie Wednesday Challenge?! I bet you are!  If you play along with us you could WIN!   Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC182) all we need is a Thank You card.  What a great challenge!  You always need those and it's not at all complicated for ya! To play along, just make a thank card, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution using one of our new December releases, Book Worm Polly.

ALWAYS love the Polly images!  We have TWO this month to choose from -- bonus!  I am excited to be stamping again.  Things are finally going a little more smoothly around here and I made time to stamp -- I feel great about that!  I hope this is the return to normal for me.  :)


Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the day's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

A Prettie Birthday!

Happy Friday to you all!  Welcome from Heather's blog!


Today we are celebrating a Prettie Birthday -- the fabulous and talented Taylor Usry!  Have an amazing day girl!

Kristine is your next stop!  Don't forget to wish Taylor a happy birthday at the end!!

Paper Pretties December Release HOP!

Happy Tuesday!!  Can you believe it's here??  Yep, Release Day has arrived at Paper Pretties, and all of the new sets are now available for purchase in the Paper Pretties store!  To celebrate, we're blog hopping!  So go hopping, then go shopping!  :)


Thanks for joining us on the hop today!  Welcome from Amber's blog!  You're right on track.  If you've gotten lost along the way, you can find a full list of the blog hop participants on the Paper Pretties blog.


Without further ado, here's my contribution to this fabulous blog hop, featuring Aged to Perfection.  Too much fun!   

What a great butterfly.  So adorable and fun to color!  Of course there are four other great new sets released now too!  Check them out now in the Paper Pretties Store!  Now, I'm out, your next stop on our party train is Kristine Reynolds.  Have a fabulous day! 

365 Cards - Day 235 and a PRETTIE BIRTHDAY!

It's Friday, Friday.  Yay!!  Are you ready for the weekend??  I am, as always.  :-)


Well I have a 2-for-1 post for you today - a new challenge AND a birthday celebration from Paper Pretties!!  Today is Heather's birthday, she's our wonderful owner and I can't think of a better person to celebrate!  I've known Heather for going on 5 years now, and she is amazing!  I am happy to call her a friend.  Have a wonderful day Heather!


Along with this awesome celebration, here's a fun challenge to jump start your creativity for the upcoming days from 365 Cards.  Day #235:  Seeing Spots.  Let's see three different polka dotted patterned papers on you cards today!  Have fun!

Stamps are from Paper Pretties (of course).  I love this quick and easy little sentiment!



Here is the order of the PRETTIE BIRTHDAY HOP in case you get lost along the way.

• Paper Pretties Blog
• Frances Byrne
• Amber Hillman
• Jennifer Greco
• Kristine Reynolds
• Lynda Benden
• Taylor Usry
• Cely Smith
• Jackie Rakoski
• Lawren Fowlkes
• Lisa Rasmussen
• Melissa Craig
• Nancy Bush
• Stephanie George
• Heather Lee-Reppen (the birthday girl)

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the party festivities so far!  Keep it rolling and visit Kristine!

Easy Canvas Prints

Hello out there in blog land!  How is everyone on this crisp, October day?  Doing well, I hope!  I have a special blog post today to share an amazing company and product with you!  I know I always love hearing about new goodness in our crafty/scrappy industry.


Last month I was contacted by EasyCanvasPrints.com and offered a free canvas in exchange for a product review here on my blog.  I went to their website and surfed around a little to get more info.  The more I saw, the more intrigued I was so of course I said "SURE" and "yayyyyy thanks" to the awesome website and marketing people.  The next (and more difficult question) out there was...what photo should I use??  Wow.  Talk about a tough choice...


In the end I got a gorgeous, high-quality 8x10 canvas featuring this wonderful photo of my boys, taken when DS#2 came home from the hospital.  (I know the picture of the picture is not the best quality.  I think there's something wrong with my camera, the bottom of the photos has been coming out blurry lately).

I really can't say enough how impressed I was with everything about EasyCanvasPrints.  (And you KNOW I'm not that easily impressed!).  This canvas is thick and heavy, with a beautiful finish and texture that shows it off as something unique, but doesn't lose anything from the photo (not even tiny baby features!).  I had the "standard wrap", which means it's 3/4" thick.  Since the sides of the canvas are exposed without a frame, I got the mirror image option, which means they're not plain, they're printed with a mirror image of the photo! Love it!  The entire frame underneath is solid and it came wrapped so carefully to ensure there was no damage during transit.


Here's the part of the ordering process that I really liked.  When you are ready to order your canvas, you go to their website, choose the canvas size you're after, and upload your picture.  You can upload from your hard drive or even from Facebook!  The website has an excellent photo editor built right into it, so you don't have to try to tweak your photo before you upload, it will show you the sizing area based on the canvas size you chose, and will let you "zoom" in the image, move it around on the print area, crop, and all kinds of things.  When you are done it will show you PERFECTLY just how your canvas will look.  This was especially important for me, the photo I chose had a kiddo's coat thrown off onto the floor right above the boys' heads.  Using the system on their website, I was able to move and zoom and push the coat out of the picture, while still seeing how it would look on the finished product (helpful because when I tried to crop it out in PSE it didn't work as well without having that sizing palette set for me.


So, yes, I am EXTREMELY pleased with this gorgeous canvas, and I can't wait to show it off!  Oh, the other thing - the printing and shipping was unbelievably fast, even with the standard shipping option I had this beauty in my hands in less than a week after ordering - coming from Texas up to Wisconsin!  I rate their quality, shipping, ease of website use and professional communication 10s across the board!  I can't wait to get another; I'm thinking wall collage...


Thank you again to Brendan for contacting me and for the workers for creating such a beautiful canvas.  I have put a permanent link to the EasyCanvasPrints website up on my right side bar, if you'd like to check it out.  You can also like them on Facebook!

365 Cards - Day 228

It's Friday, Friday.  WOOT!  I need a Friday.  Actually, I need a week of them I think.  :D  How are you today stampy friends?  Ready for the weekend??  Here's a fun challenge to jump start your creativity for the upcoming days from 365 Cards.


Pam *loves* the word "fabulous".  My challenge for today is to incorporate the word "fabulous" into my card.  Awesome idea!!  Sentiment cards can be so much fun.  Here is what I came up with - I hope it's fabulous enough for you!

The paper for this card is from Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker.  They have SUCH fabulous goodies!  Sentiment is Stamping Bella, swirl is Prima and the metal flower is from The Paper Studio.  


Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your projects! 

Paper Pretties October Release Hop!

Happy Wednesday!!  Can you believe it's here??  Yep, Release Day has arrived at Paper Pretties, and all of the new sets are now available for purchase in the Paper Pretties store!  To celebrate, we're blog hopping!  So go hopping, then go shopping!  :)

Of course with all this release excitement, it's easy to forget that it is still Wednesday, so we have a new Prettie Challenge for you.  This week's challenge is to use Halloween as the inspiration for your card (but does not have to be a Halloween card) (PWC175).  Um, this could be a costume!  If you don't buy that, I've got nothing, but please do play along and show us YOUR Halloween inspiration.

Thanks for joining us on the hop today!  Welcome from Dawn's blog!  You're right on track.  If you've gotten lost along the way, you can find a full list of the blog hop participants on the Paper Pretties blog.

Without further ado, here's my contribution to this fabulous Prettie Wednesday and blog hop, featuring the new sports-themed set Basketball Lily.  A great addition to our Teen Scene category!

She's awesome.  Of course there's a guy-themed b-ball set too so everyone is covered!  Check them out now in the Paper Pretties Store!  Now, I'm out, your next stop on our party train is Kristine Reynolds.  Have a fabulous day! 

365 Cards - Day 200

It's Friday, Friday.  WOOT!  I need a Friday.  Actually, I need a week of them I think.  :D  How are you today stampy friends?  Ready for the weekend??  Here's a fun challenge to jump start your creativity for the upcoming days from 365 Cards.


Go to your utility/junk drawer, and pick out something that you can use on your card today.  Oooh!!  Challenging and very clever!  Here is mine:

See the bottle cap?  We goes to the utility drawer, we pulls out the bottle opener.  We opens the beer and gives to the hubs (ew, beer).  Then...we STEALS the cap for our card!!!  Yes, we are tricksy.




Stamp is from Paper Pretties.


Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your projects! 

Paper Pretties September Release HOP!

Happy Wednesday!!  Can you believe it's here??  Yep, Release Day has arrived at Paper Pretties, and all of the new sets are now available for purchase in the Paper Pretties store!  To celebrate, we're blog hopping!  So go hopping, then go shopping!  :)

Of course with all this release excitement, it's easy to forget that it is still Wednesday, so we have a new Prettie Challenge for you.  This week's challenge is to use EARTH ELEMENTS colors on your card (PWC171).  Love it.  Perfect for Packer season!  *wink*

Thanks for joining us on the hop today!  Welcome from Frances's blog!  You're right on track.  If you've gotten lost along the way, you can find a full list of the blog hop participants on the Paper Pretties blog.

Without further ado, here's my contribution to this fabulous Prettie Wednesday and blog hop, featuring the new sports-themed set Football.  Perfection.  What a way to celebrate the big win last week, and to cheer on all those budding football stars out there!  I think my DS#2 is going to be one as well...

You may notice my preview card was the green (home) jersey.  Now, the away jersey!  Heeeeee!!!).  Now, I'm out, your next stop on our party train is Kristine Reynolds.  Have a fabulous day! 

Prettie Peek #3 - Fairy Special

We are excited to continue to share with you our Prettie peeks for September. We will be releasing 4 brand new stamp sets which will be available in the Paper Pretties store on Wednesday September 14th.  We are  previewing one set each day until release day!  

One random lucky commenter each preview day will win the set being previewed!  The winners from each preview day will be posted here on Wednesday.  As in previous months, we will also have a inspiration-filled blog hop on release day.  You must comment on the Paper Pretties Blog to be eligible to win.

• Join us for our release Blog Hop this Wednesday September 14th at 12 AM EST, starting on the Paper Pretties Blog.
• New Release Stamps available in the Paper Pretties Boutique on June 8th.
• Don’t forget to check out the Paper Pretties Blog to see who else is previewing the new stamps today!

The set being featured today is called "Fairy Special".  These sweet little animals are TOO CUTE for words!!!  Although, they do come with some pretty cute sentiments too.  :D

So, so sweet!!  This paper is from Die Cuts With a View, Making Memories star brads on the bottom.  Think pink!


Thanks for stopping by today.  The last peek is tomorrow and we'll have a blog hop to celebrate the release on Wednesday!  See you then and make sure to enter to WIN on the Pretties Blog!  Have a great day!

Paper Pretties Peek - Football

We are excited to continue to share with you our Prettie peeks for September. We will be releasing 4 brand new stamp sets which will be available in the Paper Pretties store on Wednesday September 14th.  We are  previewing one set each day until release day!  

One random lucky commenter each preview day will win the set being previewed!  The winners from each preview day will be posted here on Wednesday.  As in previous months, we will also have a inspiration-filled blog hop on release day.  You must comment on the Paper Pretties Blog to be eligible to win.

• Join us for our release Blog Hop this Wednesday September 14th at 12 AM EST, starting on the Paper Pretties Blog.
• New Release Stamps available in the Paper Pretties Boutique on June 8th.
• Don’t forget to check out the Paper Pretties Blog to see who else is previewing the new stamps today!

The set being featured today is called "Football".  Do we LOVE this kid, or what??  A great addition of the Teen Scene Collection!

{We *are* football fans here, guess who we love???}


Thanks for stopping by today.  We'll see you tomorrow for another new peek!  Have a great day!

Vacation!!

Hello Friends!!

Well I am on vacation, visiting my parents, for the next week or so, so the blog will be pretty quiet.  One of my amazing sista's at 365 Cards will be filling in for me this Friday, so check that post out over on the blog.  I did have a card for yesterday's post, so check the blog fot that one too, it never made it up here with all the last minute running around I did.  I can stamp, but blogging has been a real challenge this summer!  What's with that??

Of course Wednesday's Paper Pretties challenge will also be available on the Paper Pretties blog.

With all the trip prep, I never even got caught up with the posts!  Jeez!  I swear I need another 5 hours a day.  :D  But when we're home and access to the photos again I will do that.  Can't let all those fun card creations go to WASTE!

Have a great weekend and next week/weekend and I'll be back the week of the 29th.  MWAHs to you all!!

365 Cards - Day 164

It's Friday, Friday.  WOOT!  I need a Friday.  Actually, I need a week of them I think.  :D  How are you today stampy friends?  Ready for the weekend??  Here's a fun challenge to jump start your creativity for the upcoming days - a color challenge, and YOU choose the colors!!  Base your card's color scheme on your favorite sports team.  Not a fan?!  That's ok, I bet someone in your life is, just use theirs!  


You *MIGHT* recall that we are Green Bay PACKER fans 'round these parts.  Here's my creation in their honor.  Football is BACK!  It might be preseason, but it's something, and fall is screaming towards us!  (click for the super-sized view):

Stamp and sentiment are a BRAND NEW release from Paper Pretties!!  Love these Holiday Cheers II images, *so much fun*.


Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your colorful projects!

Paper Pretties August Release HOP

Happy Wednesday!!  Can you believe it's here??  Yep, Release Day has finally arrived at Paper Pretties, and all of the new sets are now available for purchase in the Paper Pretties store!  To celebrate, we're blog hopping!  So go hopping, then go shopping!  :)

Of course with all this release excitement, it's easy to forget that it is still Wednesday, so we have a new Prettie Challenge for you.  This week's challenge is to use die cuts on your card.  Yayyyyy!!  I know I can get behind that challenge!!  

Thanks for joining us on the hop today!  Welcome from Jenn Cochran's blog!  You're right on track.  If you've gotten lost along the way, you can find a full list of the blog hop participants on the Paper Pretties blog.

Without further ado, here's my contribution to this fabulous Prettie Wednesday and blog hop, featuring the new "drinks" set Holiday Cheers II.  LOVE THESE!!!

Your next stop on our party train is Kristine Reynolds.  Have a fabulous day! 

A Birthday and An Update

As unbelievable as it may sound, I am still alive!!  What a busy summer it has been.  I have at least 6 cards to share with you, that you may have seen on store and DT blogs, but have not gotten posted up here on my own blog.  Look for those this coming week, along with the last of the Paper Pretties August release previews -- RELEASE DAY is Wednesday!!


We also have a Prettie Birthday today.  Happy birthday Melissa!  You should be arriving from Heather's Blog on this hop.  I didn't have time to make a new card because of the weekend craze, but here's one I wanted to share because this is what EVERYONE should be doing on their birthday, imho.

Your next stop is Lynda Benden.  Happy Stamping everyone!  Have a great week.

365 Cards - Day 137

Good morning stamping friends!  TGIF, TGIF!!  Welcome to the start of the weekend everyone!  Our theme this week:  Collage.  Today's specifics - Day 137: Photograph, Vintage item and Soft colors.  

Here is what I came up with (click for the super-sized view):

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your summer projects!

PWC162 - Animal House

Happy Wednesday! Are you ready for the Prettie Wednesday Challenge?! I bet you are!  If you play along with us you could WIN!   Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC162) it's all about the animals. To play along, just make a card featuring an animal, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution using Dog Gone Birthday.

Love this pup!  He's so quick and easy to color, but ADORABLE.  Perfection!


Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the day's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

365 Cards - Day 130

Good morning stamping friends!  TGIF!!  Welcome to the start of the weekend everyone!  I hope you have a good one planned.  Who's ready for SUMMER?! Our theme today - Day 123: SUMMER.  The catch?  Use at least 3 images on your card that remind you of summer.  Images can come from patterned paper, stickers, stamps, digis, other embellishments - whatever you can find with a summery feel!

Here is what I came up with (click for the super-sized view):

The summer is in this great image from our sponsor this week, Robyn's Fetish.  Also in the bee sticker and my fun patterned paper.  

Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your summer projects!

PWC161 - Sketchy Wednesday

Happy Wednesday! Are you ready for the Prettie Wednesday Challenge?! I bet you are!  If you play along with us you could WIN!   Check out the Paper Pretties Blog for all the details!

For this week's challenge (keyword: PWC161) it's another amazing sketch from our own Prettie Girl, Frances!  You know I love a good sketch.  To play along, just make a card using our awesome sketch, then link up on the Paper Pretties Blog to enter.  Here is my contribution using Wicked Old Bird.  Is it Halloween yet?!

And here is the sketch, you can check how I did:

Thanks for stopping by today!  Don't forget to head over to the Paper Pretties Blog for a full list of the day's eye candy and all the challenge (and PRIZE) details!  You link up THERE for your chance to win this week's prize!  Happy stamping everyone!

365 Cards - Let's Get SILLY!

Good morning stamping friends!  TGIF!!  Welcome to the start of the weekend everyone!  I hope you have a good one planned.  Who's ready for fireworks?! 

You know as well as I do that FRIDAY means the 365 Cards Challenge around here!  Day 123: Silly Me.  Pam wants to see a silly card.  It doesn't have to have a purpose, but make us smile or laugh. 

Here is what I came up with (click for the super-sized view):

The silly is in the sentiment here.  It's from Paper Pretties' set called Fun Quotes.  I use this one ALL the time.  Seriously!  What a great set for pick-me-up, hello, friend, and (happy) thinking of you cards!  This quote always makes me smile. 


Thanks for stopping by today, I hope you have a fabulous HOLIDAY weekend!  Our plans are fairly open, planning to spend at least half of it NOT working!

Don't forget to visit the 365 Cards blog to link up your silly projects!