Layers of Color's Nina B Designs Release Hop

Thank you for joining us today for the Layers of Color's release of my former Angel Company stamps.

 After TAC closed, I received so many emails inquiring about my designs. I was disappointed when TAC didn't work out, but was encouraged by the response to my stamps there. Even better, I met several new friends who were TAC fans, so not all is lost...not at all! And now some of these TAC stamps can be purchased through Layers of Color. And because the plates are different between two companies (LOC's are bigger), I have added new images to the set that complement the others in each set. It's great to have a second chance at designing the same sets :). I hope you will like them, too.

I have a few photos to share with you today. My first card uses Dotted Dahlias, which was colored with Copics, as the main focal point. I also used the Fairy Wishes set as a background. The sentiment is from the Beautiful Lace set.

Here is the close up of the dahlia. I had so much fun coloring this.

My second card is a little more involved than my usual cards, but I had so much fun putting it together. The butterfly is from Fairy Wishes set. The word "Mom" is from the Sweet Silhouettes set and the "i love you" is from The Love Chapter set.

I also found some burlap fabric to play with and die cut that using Spellbinders Heart Nestabilities. The birdcage is also die cut (links below). The papers are Webster's Pages and the bling is from Want2Scrap.

As with any LOC hop, we also have giveaways! Leave a comment here on this post and tell me which of my new sets do you like the most. I will pick a winner who will receive that set for free. You have till midnight tonight to enter. The winner will be announced tomorrow! I also have a referral contest going on now in my Nina B Designs Facebook page. Refer your friends to like it and I will pick a random winner who, along with his/her referrer, will win one of my LOC Christmas stamps.

 Make sure you stop by the Layers of Color blog for another chance for a giveaway! And here are the DTs' blogs for more inspiration:

 Diana Queen * Janice Whiting *  Jennie Harper * Jessica Fick  * Keri Lee Sereika * Linda Lucas  * Melisa Waldorf * Nina Brackett (you are here!) * Savannah O’Gwynn

LOC Sweet Silhouettes stamp set	LOC Beautiful Lace stamp set	LOC Dotted Dahlias stamp set	LOC The Love Chapter
LOC Fairy Wishes stamp set	Webster's Pages Country Estate Paper Pack	Vintage Photo Distress Ink	Antique Linen Distress Ink
Spellbinders Bird Sanctuary Dies	Spellbinders Heart Nestabilities	Spellbinders Grand Calibur	Copic Markers
Want2Scrap Silver Rhinestons	Wild Orchid Crafts Red Roses	ScorTape

InLinkz.com

LOC Sneak Peek: I Love You Silhouettes

I have another card for you today that uses the new Layers of Colors stamps to be released tomorrow. I hope you will join us on our new release hop tomorrow.

I used Sweet Silhouettes for the background images. The sentiment and text background are from The Love Chapter. A simple rosette frames it. I'm entering this to the Moxie Fab Championing Award Medallion Challenge. It seems like it's been forever since I entered a challenge. I enjoy them, just not have the time to do it :-(.

Something to share

Something exciting is happening to me today. You can check it out HERE. I have a little giveaway to celebrate. Keep reading for more info below!

Today's card features The Craft's Meow's Happiness Is and Timeless Tags and Layers of Color's The Love Chapter (text background). I die cut the tag using Spellbinders' Grommet Tags. The papers are Crate Paper's Portrait collection.

I decided to have another giveaway to celebrate the MFWB post. I will pick a random winner from this post's comments to win the following:

• Layers of Color's Happy Wishes set
  
• The Craft's Meow's Happiness Is set
• Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Motif dies set

The giveaway is open till Wednesday at midnight. The winner will be announced on Thursday! And if you're here to find out more info about the cards on the MFWB blog, here are the links to my posts about them:

Reindeer Joy card
Simple Shabby card set
Welcome Home Butterfly
Thanks So Much 1st Published Card

2nd Blog Anniversary Giveaways Week 2

EDIT: The winners for this week's giveaways are posted HERE.

Before I announce the winners from last week's giveaway, here's a card that I made just because. Don't you just love doing that? I used my GinaK Hugs and Prayers (poppies), Christ is Risen (main verse) sets and Layers of Color's The Love Chapter (script text background). I also used the brand new Spellbinders Labels 18. I did the emboss resist technique on this card. It was inspired by two challenges:

• Etsy-Inspired - the photo inspiration is here.
• Stampin' Sisters in Christ - my treasure is God's Word (the background text is I Cor 13 and of course, the main text), but in card-speak that would be the bling which I hoard like crazy. LOL!
  

And now the winners from last week's prizes. The commenter winner is:

VALERIE

The winner of the subscribers/followers only giveaway is:

#39 LEANNE

Please email me (via tab above) to claim your prizes. Thank you for joining in the fun! Are you ready for more giveaways?

Here are this week's prizes. For a random commenter from today's post until Monday (March 21, 11:59pm PST), I will give this away: Gina K's Lawn and Garden, Seeds of Kindness, which go well with the SEI paper pack (please note this not brand new, but only a few sheets are missing). Remember you get to comment twice a day if you share this post on Facebook or your blog.
For my faithful subscribers and followers (via Google readers, Facebook, blogger, etc.), this is what's up for grabs:

• GinaK's Fun Year Round stamp set
• Some of my favorite SRM Stickers
• 3 colors of twine from The Twinery (15 yards each)
• Maya Road felt cupcakes
  

Remember, you have to enter your name via the Inlinkz below to be included in the drawing. Leaving a comment stating you're a follower will NOT be enough as I have no way to keep track of them easily. If you entered last week, no need to enter again. One entry per person, please. Duplicate entries will not be included in the drawing. If you don't have a blog, just enter mine, but make sure you enter your email address. Thank you for your regular visits!

My version of grunge

Almost exactly a year ago was when I discovered who Tim Holtz was. Crazy, isn't it? Remember I'm in Croatia and up until lately, wasn't exposed to all the fabulous artists and products like my friends in North America are. :-) I have since purchased a few of Tim's products, but I never could get myself really into the distressed and grungy style as he does so well. I love vintage, but on the delicate side, using lace and ribbons.

Here are my own versions of the grungy style: I distressed the edges of the image panel and did an emboss resist technique using Tim's Distress Inks. This card uses Tami Mayberry's latest set, Live Life Loud and Oct Afternoon papers.

This card is the more typical distressing with Tim's inks. I didn't really like the end results (too messy? LOL), so I added the white dots and sponged red on the flowers to "femininize" my card. Of course, I had to add lace, ribbon and a flower. :-) The flowers and sentiments are from Hero Arts. The text background is from Layers of Color's The Love Chapter.

How about you? Do you like to distress and grunge up your cards? I know I still have lots to learn.

I'm entering these to the the Shabby Tea Room Challenge this week.

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!

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.

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.