ZVA Blog Hop

As you know, I feel so fortunate to be part of the Zva Creative DT! We are joining together today to share a Christmas or Holiday Tag that we each created showcasing the beautiful products that Zva has to offer. There's prizes involved and LOADS of inspiration!!

Here are the details:

The Blog Hop begins at Kim Hughes' blog. She is linking to one of the designers and that designer is linking to the next and so on. There are 12 design team members, so be prepared to be inspired along the way. Hidden on 5 of the blogs is a Zva Creative prize package! Those blogs will be randomly chosen after the hop is over, so it's important to leave a comment on as many blogs as you can. Our team is so wonderfully diverse, so we are hoping that you will discover a talent that you have not been aware of.

This Blog Hop runs through midnight on Tuesday, December 8th and the 5 winners will be announced on Wednesday, December 9th. We will do our best to notify each winner, but it's best if you can pop in to all of the blogs once again on Wednesday...plus, you never know what kind of inspirational creation that you may find there. All you need to do is leave a comment on this Zva Blog Hop post...you do not need to leave a comment on each and every designer's blog post to qualify. The more times you leave a comment along the blog hop path though, the more chances you will have to be one of the lucky winners.

So, here is my contribution to the blog hop. I had so much fun making this one!! I started with a Making Memories Vintage Findings tag. I inked it and added a circle tag cut out from the MM packaging.



I decided that I wanted the little round tag to become an ornament. I used a swirl (CRO2CA103)and some Zva flowers (FLBK02CA109) to create the top of the bulb. I just clipped off one of the swirls and tucked it under the tag to create the hook.



I used most of the rest of the swirl and adhered it to the bottom of the tag. I made a flower from some sheer ribbon and sat the little Cardinal in it. Finally, I tied some twill to the top of the tag and added a clear gem (CR01CB101)which I colored with a Copic Marker.




This was so quick and easy to make and I love how it turned out!

If you started at Kim's blog, you may be finishing up with me. ;) But, if you're just getting here, head on over to her blog (linked above) to get started. You certainly won't be disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by and for playing along with the Zva crew today. Good luck!

Snow Day!

It's snowing!!! I don't know how much will stick, but it's fun to see the big white flakes coming down. I grabbed Ryan and snapped a few pics. I think I may actually have gotten a shot for my Christmas card. ;)

Anyway, I'm in the midst of making some shortbread cookies, but I wanted to pop on say and post a couple of things. This first project is something I made for my mom for her birthday. It is a project based on Iris Babao Uy's Webster's Crop project. The glass is from a picture frame. I added some gold embossing powder, Webster's papers and Zva crystals. The chipboard is Tattered Angels. I spritzed Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist over the photo and the papers, too.



This next card is one I did for Emma's. I used lots of 7 Gypsies, some Hambly and a Basic Grey Sticker. The resin piece is Melissa Frances.




Have you heard about the newest Angel? It looks like there will be someone new joining the Tattered Angels staff. I have no idea who this person is, but I do know that everyone is REALLY excited about her. The big announcement will be HERE soon.

Be sure to stop back on Monday. We are having a Zva blog hop!! There are going to be prizes and tons of holiday inspiration!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Noel Mignon Challenge

I have been so busy lately with assignments and things that I had to do! So, when I came across this challenge at the Noel Mignon challenge blog, I knew I wanted to do a layout just for fun. And it WAS fun! As you know I LOVE the movie New Moon and that's what the challenge was based on.

Here's what I had to do...
The book "New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer is all about change and moving on. The author stated that the reason behind the title is because whenever there is a new moon, the night is very dark; just like this time in the protagonist's journey in the book. Sometimes when you are going through changes, it's hard to see the end result and if you are going to get your "happy ever after."

Using this thematic element from the book, do a layout based on a major change that happened in your life. It doesn't have to be when life was "dark" for you; not all change is bad or as dramatic as it was for Bella!

Also include:

-the colors black, white, and red
-flowers (like the cover of New Moon)
-text/book paper (it doesn't have to be from the book- I wouldn't ask you to tear up a Twilight book! )
-a charm of some sort (to represent the charms that Edward & Jacob gave Bella)
-a little bit of bling or sparkle (hello- because the vampires are sparkly!)

I've been wanting to do a page about losing my Stay At Home Mom status for a while, so this challenge was perfect for it. I loved pulling out my new Jenni Bowlin, Pink Paislee and My Mind's Eye papers. The flowers are Prima, the swirl is Zva. I didn't have any charms, but I think the glass bead charm worked well enough. I used it for the butterfly's body.





You can check out what the Noel Mignon DT did with this challenge HERE.

If you want to play along, you have until the 4th to do so.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Trim the Tree Challenge

I have had so much fun playing along with the PTI girls these past couple of months. Today's project is my last post as Guest Designer. I'm so grateful to PTI for giving me the chance to work with them. It's been a wonderful experience.

I'm really excited to be playing along with this challenge. We had to create a Christmas ornament. I decided to use a cookie cutter as my base.




There are so many fun ones out there. First, I stamped a medallion with Giga Guidelines using Spring Moss ink. I stamped the dots from Communique Curves in Ripe Avocado and then stamped Merry twice in Rasberry Fizz. I add stickles to the dots. I attached this to the cutter. Then, I wrapped it in in Rasperry Fizz ribbon. I stamped Background Basics Diamonds several times using Spring Moss. Then I cut 1/4 inch strips of the paper and adhered it over the ribbon using Scor - Tape. Finally, I added two buttons and lots of stickles.



I made the matching little tag to go with it. Haven't decided who will get it yet, but I think I'll wrap it in clear cellophane and attach the tag at the top. I used the same stamp sets on the tag.

Be sure to check out the other ladies' blogs to see some really cute projects!

Michelle Wooderson

Heather Nichols

Lisa Johnson

Becky Oehlers

Betsy Veldman


Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

A Peek into the Past

So, have you started your shopping? This is the first time in a while that I didn't brave Target, Kohl's or Walmart at 5am. I usually go with my girlfriend, but she was in Georgia this year, so I stayed home. The fun for me is all about getting out of the house for some uninterrupted girl time, so going by myself wasn't an option. We did get the Christmas Tree up and I did some shopping online. Got some great deals, too!

Speaking of shopping, recently, my brother found an old photo of our mall from around the time that we were kids. It's the Walt Whitman Mall on Long Island and the photo brough back such memories. I created this rather simple page. I wanted it to have a funky 60s/70s feel to it. I used a Glimmer Screen and Glimmer mist for the background and added some Zva pearls. The snowflakes were turned into flowers.






Here's the journaling if you're interested.
When Al sent me this photo of the Walt Whitman Mall circa 1970, I was instantly transported back in time. How many times did I throw pennies into that fountain?
How many times did Mom and I wait outside of that Macy’s on December 26 so we could go in and get our bargain wrapping paper? Al and I started remembering all of the aspects of the Mall of our youth. The Italian ice stand in the alcove by Macy’s, Food of All Nations, McCrory’s. Later on, it was shopping at Jean Nicole for the
latest fashions (Jordache and Sassoon jeans) and going to the 3-11 Shoppe
looking for prom dresses. I love this photo for so many reasons. Mostly because it brings me back to the carefree, fun days of my youth. The Mall was the hub of our social lives and seeing it the way it looked back then is such a treat. I don’t know who took this picture or why they did, but I’m so glad we found it. The white globe lights are now gone and the Whitman Mall is totally upscale now. But, this is how it will always look in my heart.

This photo made me want to go out and start taking pictures of everything around me. I'd love to see the grocery store we shopped at as kids, see the library how it looked and even view my old bedroom. I think having pictures of the 'mundane' things really captures history. Finding this photo is a reminder that I want to do that for Ryan.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We will be having a big family dinner later today, but I wanted to post this to wish all of my American friends a great Thanksgiving holiday. I truly am blessed in so many ways. I have the most loving and wonderful family, I have friends, near and far, who I cherish, and I have a hobby that I love! Thank you to those of you who stop by to read my musings and to see my latest creations. I appreciate all of your comments and good wishes and I feel so fortunate to have 'met' so many creative souls who share my passion.

Here's a layout that sums up what I'm most thankful for. I used some Zva crystals and some Making Memories and October Afternoon papers.





Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your turkey!!

Prima Part 2

This weekend flew by way too fast! On Saturday, we tailgated at the Delaware/Villanova game with the family. We were the only UD fans in the group. And our team lost! But, it was still lots of fun! Then, yesterday, I met up with Cindy (of Emma's Paperie)and her friend Erin. We saw New Moon. LOVED it. Oh my gosh, I NEED a Team Jacob t-shirt. ;) :) :) I loved him after reading the book, and he stayed my favorite until the end of the series. Taylor Lautner totally does him justice on the screen. We hit PF Changs aferwards and feasted on all of my favorites. It was so good getting to see Cindy and being able to meet Erin. We're only a couple of hours aways from each other and decided we definitely need to do this kind of thing more often!

So, here are two more of my Prima projects. I used the Tropics line on both of them. This layout has some Glimmer Mist spritzed onto the stitched paper. I wanted to make it look like water drops. I also wanted the pearl/crystal swirl to look like a splash.





The card was really easy to make. I used a floral piece of the Tropics paper and added flowers on top of it for lots of texture. The stamp is PTI.




So excited to only work two days this week. Then, it's Thanksgiving!!
Thanks for stopping by. :)