Some CHA photos

Hi, friends...it's been a crazy few days here in LA, but it's fun. CHA is in full swing with lots of new goodies to behold. Unfortunately, I've been too busy in the Spellbinders booth that I haven't had time to walk the floor to see all that's new. I did get to visit Tsukineko and saw these beautiful creations featuring Layers of Colors stamps. These houses were made by my fellow DT members and were just fabulously displayed at the Tsukineko booth.
They displayed my cards too under the Memento tree. I just love their inks!
I was also able to help SRM Stickers with a class of almost 150 people. It was a sight to behold.

Look what Laura sent us...oh they were so yummy!
However, I have been able to meet some lovely friends. This is the amazing and sweet Julie Overby, who is working at the Spellbinders booth with me.
This is the very talented Heidi Blankenship, who also worked the booth with me.
I had lunch with the famous and fabulous Jessica Witty and the two lovely ladies below.
This is Cindy, owner of one of my favorite online stores Emma's Paperie.
And one of my paper crafting idols, Anabelle O'Malley.
On Sunday, I took Jennie and Janice to my home church and took a quick tour of Sta Monica. It was so cold.

Goodbyes and Hellos

Don't you just hate goodbyes? I know they're part of life, but I can't seem to get used to them. And practice doesn't make perfect either because I've said so many in my lifetime and still each one is hard.

But, nothing is worse than saying goodbye to my sweet girls and husband. And thankfully, this is the first (and maybe only) time I get to do it. It is like a big part of me was left there with them and I don't feel complete. It's amazing how God interweaves our hearts together so we can experience love this intense. It is such a gift to have dear people whom you love and who love you back. So even in this painful experience of being separated from my family, God shows Himself as good. I am blessed!

To help with the girls' sadness of my being away, I left them a stack of cards to open, one for each day I'm gone. I left little clues in the notes about where to find treats that I hid all over the house.
Here are some sample treats I left for them. I used SRM Stickers tubes that are so fun to decorate. I made these vintage shabby (what else?). They're filled with chocolate. I used the We've Got Your Sticker Sweet to secure the wrapped doilies in place and for the tags.

One of the upsides of goodbyes is you also get to say hello when you get to your destination. I am enjoying time with my parents right now and it's been a long time since I'm home alone with them. I am blessed to have wonderful parents, too. And, of course, I will see many of my blogging and paper crafting friends at CHA later this week. I will try to update this blog with photos from the floor.

In the meantime, here are some shots I took from 38K feet in the air. This one was taken over the Atlantic Ocean.

And I believe these were the Rockies, from what I could tell on the map. Don't these just shout the glory of God? What a beautiful world we live in.

I hope you will all have a great day today!

Sketch Time for STV

Happy Monday! Today's card is for Stamp TV's Sketch Spotlight #10. I used Gleefully Yours with some yummy Webster's Pages papers again. The cardstocks are GinaK Wine with Everything and Green Apple and inks are Memento Sweet Plum mixed with Rhubarb Stalk.

My blog posts will be sparse in the next several days as I get busy with traveling and CHA. It's going to be fun, but am not so excited about leaving my family. This will be my first trip solo since I got married. I miss them already and I haven't left yet. I know God can take care of them better than I can. It's a relief that even in this area, I can trust Him and be confident He is always good. This verse from Isaiah 26:3, 4 has been a blessing to me lately:

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. [Another version of the last phrase says, "For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock."]

L-O-V-E

My card today is for Card Patterns sketch this week. Our sponsor is Layers of Color Art Stamps. I used one of their brand new stamps, The Love Chapter, on my card. The papers are Webster's Pages. The lace is from my sweet friend, Jennie.

Here is the sketch:

And this is the prize up for grabs! I hope you can join us!

Stamp TV Color Spotlight

TGIF, even though my work doesn't really change as a stay at home mom :-). This weekend, however, is a little busier than usual for me. I'm leaving for CHA on Wednesday and I have a long to-do list until then! This is my first solo trip in a long time, so I'm a little sad. But, I look forward to seeing my parents and so many of my blogging friends in the paper crafting community there. If you will be at CHA, please stop by the Spellbinders booth, where I will be working. I'd love to meet you!

Today's card is for StampTV's Color Spotlight Challenge. I used my Gleefully Yours set with Webster's Pages pages. And my new favorite embellishment, the artisan frames by Pink Paislee. I inked it with Vivid Aqua to show the details. The cardstocks are Turquoise Sea and Chocolate Brown.

On another note, one of my cards is being featured in the Moxie Fab blog today. Thanks, Cath! If you want more info about the card, you can go to THIS SPECIAL POST. Enjoy the weekend, everyone!

Oldies But Goldies Hop

My friend Sue started this group on Facebook called Design Divas. I gladly joined just to get to know other crafty sisters in the stamping world. Today is our very first Oldies but Goldies Hop. Basically, we are required to use supplies (stamps, embellishments, papers, etc.) that we haven't used in at least six months. It's a great motivator to take out some neglected supplies and get creative.
If you came here from Brenda's blog, then you're at the right place. If not, make sure you visit Sue 's blog where she has a list of participants.

My card today uses my Heartily Yours set, paired with Love Notes, last year's Gina K Valentine release. The papers are Cosmo Cricket and October Afternoon. The cardstocks are GinaK Sweet Corn and Red Hot.

Now, please visit the talented GERI for the next stop on this hop. Have a great day!

Love Blog Hop Winner

I hope you found much inspiration from the Layers of Color's Love blog hop yesterday. Thank you for making it a success.

My card for today uses the new Sent with Love clear art stamps. The card base is GKD Ocean Mist. The sentiment is framed with the Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies.

And now for the winner of the HAPPY WISHES SET, via random.org, is...#6 SANDRA. Congratulations! Please remember from yesterday's post, it is important that you contact me (via tab above) asap, or I will have to draw another winner tomorrow!

Make sure you visit the LOC blog and other LOC DTs to check if you won there:

Diana, Janice, Jennie, Jessica, Linda, Melisa

For the rest of you who didn't win this time, take advantage of Layers of Color's new release sale. They extended it one more day for you all!

Layers of Color Release Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to the January 2011 Layers of Color New Release Blog Hop!
If you came from Linda's blog, you are in the right place. If you have just stopped in, please start at the LOC blog, you won’t want to miss a thing!

You’re invited to join us in celebrating our NEWEST RELEASE!
FREE ART STAMPS are being given away on the all Blog Hop designers blogs!
And we are offering a GRAND PRIZE drawing where you can
WIN the ENTIRE NEW RELEASE!

I am especially excited to finally release my THREE Layers of Color Clear Art Stamp sets, along with TWO new cling art stamps, beautifully illustrated by Laura Campbell.



My card uses the new cling art stamp, WARBLER and SENT WITH LOVE Clear Art set. The papers are Webster's Pages. The large scallops were made using the Spellbinders Big Scalloped Petite Borderabilities.

Now, how about free stamps? I''m giving away a copy of the HAPPY WISHES SET! Simply pop in at Layers of Color to view the New Release and leave a comment, and then come back here and comment telling me your favorite Layers of Color New Release – easy peasy!!

While you’re there, take advantage of the ONE DAY ONLY BLOG HOP SALE!! All blog hop designer’s giveaways and Layers of Color Grand Prize drawing winners will be drawn at the end of the Blog Hop. You have only 24 hours to respond and remember, each blog has a giveaway, so comment away!

Layers of Color * Diana * Janice * Jennie * Jessica * Melisa * Linda * Nina (you are here) * Layers of Color

Purple Love - More LOC peek

Today's card is for Card Patterns sketch and another preview of the new Layers of Color's The Love Chapter clear art stamp set. Don't forget our Blog Hop on Monday to feature the new release Layers of Color stamps and for a chance to win some crafting goodies!

The papers are Webster's Pages. The big flower and lace are from Card Patterns' sponsor this week, Craftbrulee. Isn't that flower lovely?

And here's the sketch. I hope you can join us.

Vintage Gramophone

Thank you all for your anniversary wishes yesterday and for sharing your joy with me as my hubby and I celebrate God's gift of marriage.

My kids saw a cassette tape yesterday and I had to explain that it's the old "CD." My youngest watched an old Veggie Tales movie on VHS (remember those?) the other day and when I was rewinding it, my iTunes fan 5-yr-old asked if it was downloading. It's crazy how the common items we used are so foreign to my kids and I don't think I'm that old :-).

Technology is changing too fast in our generation. And once in awhile, it's good to remember the good old days before the computer and internet dominated our lives. I think this is why I love vintage things. They remind me of simpler and often happier times. When I was illustrating my Gleefully Yours set, I knew I had to include a gramophone. It just looks prettier than my iPod. :-)

This card is for Stamp TV's Color Spotlight this week. The papers are Webster's Pages and the flower is Prima.

Finally, 3 more of my new Spellbinder dies designs are being previewed by their DT today. It's so neat to see them used in projects by these talented ladies.

15 years of bliss

Excuse the "mushiness" and length of this post, but it has to be written :-).

Fifteen years ago today, my happily ever after began when I married this godly, amazing man. He is truly my best friend and confidant, my #1 supporter and protector, the father of my beautiful children and the love of my life. Our love story is a true testimony of God's goodness and grace.

Back in college, I never thought I would get married. I thought my standards were too high that I would never find a man I would want and I didn't want to settle for anyone less. And I thought if I were to find a man like my ideal, he wouldn't want to marry me with all my faults. Well, the first time I met Kris, I knew he was the type I would marry. He is smart, handsome, dignified and silly at the same time (he had to be being a youth ministry intern). Little did I know that 2 years later, he would be the man I would marry and my life adventure began.
He is wonderful in big ways.

• He loves me in spite of my faults.
  
• He encourages me when I need lifting up. Nobody can make me laugh better than he does.
  
• He works hard to provide for his family, so I don't have to work outside the home.
  
• He leads his family in a God-honoring way. He leads by serving.
  
• He instructs his girls God's Word.
• He treats me and the girls the way ladies should be treated, like back when chivalry was the norm.
• He publicly expresses his affection to me and the girls.
• He treasures God's Word and thankful that he gets to study and teach it for a living.

I also want to point out the little things he does that make him wonderful:

• During the cold winter months, he will lay down on my side of the bed first so it's warm by the time I get there.
• He will make sure we have enough necessities (you can't have too many spares of toilet papers in a house full of girls) before he goes out of town for work.
• When he travels to the US, He will leave his stuff there so he can squeeze in more stamping supplies for me and more princess goodies for the girls.
• He is not afraid to cry, even when watching touching movies.
• He will sit through Princess movies to spend time with the girls.
• He will listen and gets really involved with my stamping adventures.
  

I can go on and on, but you get the picture. Kris loves me unconditionally, just as the Bible commands husbands to love their wives. I love 1 Corinthians 13, which is called the Love chapter in the Bible and Kris has exemplified the love traits listed there.

So when Laura, owner of Layers of Color and who also took the photo above, approached me to create a sentiment/text set with this I Cor 13 in mind, I was very excited. And how special that I get to preview it for you on our wedding anniversary. My card below uses The Love Chapter clear art stamp set (avail Jan 17). I used my hubby's favorite colors because this card is for him.

Don't forget to join us for the Layers of Color New Release Blog Hop on Monday where there will be prizes and lots of inspiration. The new stamps will also be available for purchase then. I hope you can join us.

Just the Way You Are

I can't believe it's Wednesday already. I hope you are having a great week so far. My girls' transition to school has gone smoothly. Even my youngest didn't complain about going to kindergarten and she usually much prefers to stay home, esp when it's cold outside.

Speaking of my girls, I just heard this song, Just the Way You Are, yesterday for the first time and immediately loved it. I know it's a love song between a man and a woman, but the words are perfect to sing to my girls (Except for one word that I would replace with "silly" instead of "sexy" for them. LOL). And my middle child cried when I played it for them. She's so tender-hearted and it just melts my heart.

Today's card uses my latest GinaK stamps, Gleefully Yours. The papers are Pink Paislee.

And this is one BIG reason I have a "rockin' good time" with life and for which I thank God everyday (Photo courtesy of my friend, Laura Campbell, owner of Layers of Color):

And the talented Bekka Freeken is previewing today two sets of dies that I designed for Spellbinders. She does amazing work with die cuts.

Layers of Color Preview 1 and Winner!

I'm so excited to preview today one of the sets, Happy Wishes, I designed for Layers of Color. This, along with 2 more clear sets and 2 cling art stamps illustrated by Laura Campbell, will be released on January 17th.

This card uses Touch of Elegance, one of my all-time favorite LOC stamp set, as a background. The sentiment is from Happy Wishes set. I love the fonts - so vintage and elegant. This set has two big stamps and several smaller stamps to make your customized greetings. I will have more sneak peeks throughout the week and don't forget the BLOG HOP on Monday, Jan 17, for many chances to win the new release stamps.

And before I announce the winner of my blog candy, I just want to thank you again for your visits and becoming my follower. You are all a blessing to me and I'm thankful that I get to share what I love doing with you from my little craft table in Croatia. I hope you will always find inspiration here on my blog.

And now for the winner of my blog candy...Random.org picked #103...DARLA! Please contact me via tab above with your mailing address and I will send your goodies out to you asap.

Thank you all for entering my blog candy. I will have more coming up the next few weeks, including my new Layers of Color stamps and NEW SPELLBINDER DIES that I designed and will be released at CHA. Speaking of which, you can view one of them on Kazan's blog today. She did such a fantastic job with it. This is the other exciting news I alluded to yesterday and more previews are coming up. :-)

A Sketch Card and Two Exciting News!

Happy Monday! I hope you had a relaxing weekend and was able to squeeze in some crafting time. Today's a sad day for me as my girls return to school. We had a great break, though, and are now counting the weeks till Easter break in a few months.

Today's card is for Stamp TV's sketch challenge. The cardstocks are GinaK Rocket Red; papers are Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly (music sheet) and Early Bird. The circle and scallop circle are die cut using Spellbinders dies. And of course, I had to use my latest stamp set, Gleefully Yours. I hope you can join us for this week's sketch challenge.

And now for my exciting news... First, SRM Stickers just announced their new DT members on their post here. Not only was it fun to see some good friends, esp my co-crafter in Croatia, Jane Beljo, make that list, but I have been asked to stay on as Emeritus DT for SRM Stickers. What a blast this past year has been designing for them and I'm so glad I get to continue doing that this year. I love my stickers :-).

And my second exciting news...Layers of Color will have a New Release Blog Hop on January 17. Not only am I participating in this, but the LOC team will also feature something I've been working on for several months now. I am now designing stamps for LOC! I will have 3 new clear art stamp sets, along with Laura's 2 new cling art stamps, releasing on Jan 17 and I can't wait to share them all with you. The badge below has a sneak peek of what's coming! There will be lots of inspiration and giveaways a week prior to the hop. I hope you can join us. Read all about my exciting news on the LOC blog:

I have more exciting news to share, but they will have to wait till the end of the week! I'm just telling you, they're to DIE for :-).

Bird Hugs

Happy Saturday! It's the last weekend before my girls start school again. So, we're packing in as much fun these next two days.

Today's card is for Card Patterns #97. The image is by Tiffany Doodles, this week's sponsor. The sentiment is SRM Stickers' We've Got Your Sticker Sweet. The papers are Pink Paislee. The felt bird is by Maya Road and the flower is by SU. I also used Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped circle dies.

Here is the sketch. I hope you can play along with us next week.

Finally, check out my friend Melanie's blog today. She's collaborating with Operation Write Home and giving away two copies of her latest set, Where Your Heart Is.