Can't hold it in any longer...

So stoked that I will be adding this badge over to the right side of this blog for the next year!!

You can see the official announcement and check out all the new (and some returning) members of the team {here}!

And if you leave a comment on that post you will be entered to win a bunch of scrapbooking goodies!
:)

Bring on 2013!!
:)
gretchen

Creating Keepsakes Blog Hop with a GIVEAWAY {of course!!}

Welcome to my stop along the Creating Keepsakes Blog Hop!
Thank you for stopping by!

This blog hop is to get the word out about
CK's new Special Issue:
Scrapbooking Babies and Toddlers 

Oh the sweetness in this issue!!

You will love it!!

There is a great sneak peek of some of the articles in this issue {here}.

And {here} is a link to some extra online content too {here}

Sweet, huh??!
*****

Want a copy of this issue for yourself??
Leave a comment here telling me why you need it and I will randomly draw a winner at the end of the day on Monday (December 3rd).

Each person along this blog hop is giving away a copy so that gives you lots of chances to win.

Make sure to visit each blog!

From here you need to hop on over to the fabulous 
Jana Morton's blog!
And thanks for stopping by mine!
Have an awesome day!!
:)
gretchen

Happy Black Friday!

...well what's left of it anyway!
:)
Anybody score anything good??

I ventured out to a couple of places this afternoon but just hit a couple of small stores.
I wasn't feeling too brave!
:)

FYI: Bella Blvd has a sweet Black Friday giveaway over on their blog!

Head over there, leave a comment on {this post}, & maybe you will win some loot!

Speaking of Bella Blvd, here is a thank you card I made using some of the "Thankful" line...

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the weekend!
:)
gretchen

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope you have a fun, family-filled, relaxing, and delicious Thanksgiving!

Supplies: Patterned paper, stickers, chipboard, button are all Bella Blvd

Happy day!
:)
gretchen

More KI Flashback!

I am still loving the new KI Memories Flashback line!
Yay for the return of KI!! 

I actually came across this picture as I was looking through a box for a different picture.

It is one of my favorite pictures ever of my brothers and I.
Even though I have scrapped this picture before in a mini-album, I thought this extra copy needed a layout of its own!

Here are a few close up views of the layout.
Check out that stitched, scalloped border.

I didn't make that.

It came like that!
Just one of the cool, new products in the "Flashback" line!

Die cut frames!
Yep!

This line has a couple of super fun sticker sheets full of great itty-bitty stickers.

And I think I tried to use as many of them as I could on this one layout!
:)  

Have an awesome day!
:)
gretchen

I love taking photos

Hi!
If you are looking for the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop, scroll down to the next post.
{and thank you for stopping by!}
*****
It is pretty well known to those close to me that I sure do like taking pictures!
And when I saw the "camera" paper and stickers in the new KI Memories Flashback line I thought this was a great excuse to do a layout about that picture-taking obsession!
You know, as kind of a warning for those who don't know me all too well yet!
:)

I printed out several Instagram pictures I have taken recently and made this 2-page layout...

{click on layout to see it larger}

*****
Here is the left side of the layout...

And here is the right side of it...

This Flashback line is very cool!
I mean, how fun are these camera stickers??!
And I love the new washi tapes too!!

Thanks for stopping by today!
My stop along the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop is below if you would like a little Christmas card inspiration!
:)
Happy Monday!
gretchen

Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!

Welcome to my stop along the Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!

I am proud to represent Hampton Arts and KI Memories in this fun event!

This is a 3 day hop that includes over 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner.
Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays during the second annual
Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!
To sweeten the blog hop, there are lots of gifts and prizes up for grabs!
For every comment you leave on the blogs along the hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors!

Also, use the Rafflecopter widget on the Clearsnap blog to gain extra entries each day.

And go "like" Hampton Arts on Facebook too!
*****

I hope you are having fun and being inspired at the same time!!

I've got Christmas card overload for ya!

Supplies: Patterned paper (Authentique "Peaceful" and "Festive" collections), Fiskars snowflake punch, KI Memories glitter border stickers

Supplies: Patterned paper (Authentique "Peaceful" and "Festive" collections, KI Memories "Over the Rainbow" collection), Fiskars snowflake punch, twine from The Twinery, KI Memories glitter border stickers

Supplies: Patterned paper (Authentique "Peaceful" and "Festive" collections), Fiskars snowflake and tag punches, twine from The Twinery, KI Memories glitter border stickers

Supplies: Patterned paper (Authentique "Peaceful" and "Festive" collections), Fiskars snowflake punch, twine from The Twinery, KI Memories glitter border stickers

I added a 3"x3" pocket from KI Memories inside this card to hold a gift card.

It's the perfect size...I love that!

And one more card for you...

Supplies: Patterned paper (Authentique "Peaceful" and "Festive" collections), Fiskars snowflake punch, twine from The Twinery, KI Memories glitter border stickers

I added a pocket inside this card also...

Here is a complete list of today's hop.

Make sure to hit each stop along the hop and leave a comment for your chance to win some loot!!

Clearsnap

Hampton Art

Graphic45
Fiskateers

Donna Salazar Designs
Tombow USA
Authentique Paper

The Twinery 

Eileen Hull for Sizzix
Globecraft Memories
Diana Gonzalez for Clearsnap
Melissa Cash for Tombow 

Monika Wright
Linda Neff
(my blog is next and you are already here. yay!!)

Megan Aaron

Tania Willis

Gloria Stengel

Suzanne Austin

Shellye McDaniel

Natasha Naranjo Aguirre

Jen Carter

Laura Denison

Candy Spiegel

*****

Here are some of the stamp sets and ink you could win from Hampton Arts!

But those are just a few of the many things you could win!

There are so many companies participating and that means more prizes for you!

So get to hopping!!

Your next stop is on

Megan Aaron's blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

and Merry Christmas!
:)

gretchen

Cards on Thursday (on the right day this time!)

 For today's feature over on the Bella Blvd blog, it is all about cards using Bella's Unity Stamps.

I thought it would be fun to see how well the some of the stamps work with the new Kiss Me line.

Like this little cutie for example...

Seems like I cannot ever have too many "baby" cards on hand these days, so I whipped up this girly one.

I stamped the onesie on a scrap of Kiss Me patterned paper and then cut it out to add it to the card.

I covered up the "it's a boy" sentiment with a flower button (it covered it up perfectly!).

And the flags are actually the wedding-themed flags, but they work!!

On the next card, I used the "I'm thinking about you!" from this stamp set.

And I combined several of Bella's designer tapes with the Kiss Me line to make this one.

OK that's all I've got today!

But come back in a couple of days because I get to be a part of a very fun Christmas-y blog hop!

Have an awesome day!

:)

gretchen

Cards on Thursday

 Oops!

I am a few days behind!

It was "Cards on Thursday" over on the Bella Blvd blog a few days ago.

And I had a couple of cards up there that I am just now getting around to sharing here!

I thought I would use the new "Kiss Me" line to add a couple of basic greeting cards to my stash. 

Short and sweet!

*****

Happy Sunday and happy Veteran's Day!

:)
gretchen

Well this should be fun...

I loved the first volume that came out last year.

And guess whose humble little scrap space gets to be in the new issue??:)

Yep!

My room is in there!!
I cannot wait to see how the pictures turned out!
And I am working my hardest to keep it as clean as it looks in the pics!
:)

You can see the official announcement and learn more about the new issue {over here}.

Oh I am so anxious!!
:)

As I watch election coverage...

I thought I would share a couple more cards I made using the KI Memories Hot Date line.
I just love this fun, spunky line!

I tried making a somewhat boy-ish, lovey-dovey card...

I decorated the inside of this one just a bit...

And one more...

I decorated the inside of this one too...

Sorry, not much "talking" on this blog post.
I'm distracted by Fox News.

Happy election day folks!
:)
gretchen

P.S.
Here's a laugh for you...
I voted, proudly stuck the "I voted" sticker on my chest, & then proceeded to run errands to Walgreens, Publix, and Target for about an hour.
I went home, changed clothes, & then noticed the dang sticker was upside down.
Geez, maybe I should not be allowed to vote!

Caring Hearts Card Drive!!

Welcome to my stop along the blog hop!

(if you are here from Jennifer Chapin's blog, then you are on the right track!)
I am stoked to get to be a part of a such a worthy cause!

Not familiar with the Caring Hearts Card Drive??

Well this is the 3rd year that Vera Yates has organized this event to bring some cheer to elderly folks in nursing homes during the holiday season.
This is what she says:

"The holidays are about family, about kindness, and joy. During this time many of the elderly who live in nursing homes will really feel the loneliness or miss their family. Wouldn't it be so awesome if we can bring a smile to their faces & brighten their holiday season simply by sharing our love of card making? It's a simple gesture to let them know that they are not forgotten.

We all love making cards and what’s better than knowing our creations can bring a smile to others? I hope that many of you will help out in the effort to spread joy & cheer."

*****

You can learn all about the card drive on Vera's blog (here). 

I am going to participate and send a few cards. 

Supplies: Bella Blvd

I hope you will send a few cards in too!
When you send some you are automatically entered in drawings for some awesome prizes that Vera's sponsors have given her.
AND you can win prizes by just participating in this blog hop!! 

 Bella Blvd, Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn, Avocado Arts, May Arts, Two Peas In A Bucket have generously donated prizes for the blog hop.

Winners will be randomly chosen from comments left on all the blogs in the hop. 

The more blogs visit and leave comments on, the better your chances!!
:)

Now get to hopping!

Your next stop is on the blog of the talented
Malika Kelly!!

You have until Monday 11/5 at midnight CST to leave comments.

Thanks for stopping by today!

:)

gretchen