pretty in pink...

Gotta say that I have never been around a little piggy (piggy bath) that has been this pink or cute, but in the mud...defiantly. Think I am in need of a smile or two more this week to keep me going and have been drawn to creating animal cards, as you may have noticed. As I cut each piece it brings these little critters to life and you are sure to hear a few little giggles from me. Today, over on MelJen's Designs blog, the Thursday challenge is to create a Monochromatic project without glitter...oh that was difficult :) Just seems natural to use glitter on a pink card...right?

That is all for today. The cleaning that was supposed to take place yesterday had been postponed until...well, now...so I best be on my way. Tomorrow is a very special day over at MelJen's Designs and I am sure to have a project or two to share and maybe a little giveaway :) Hope you can check back then!

Andrea

pucker up...

I couldn't resist...she is just so darn cute! This image, mini valentines from Whimsie Doodles, was perfect for this week's Whimsie Wednesday challenge to create a shaped card. I am pretty sure it would put a smile on anyone's face. Making my visit today brief today as I should be cleaning...but really isn't crafting more of a priority? If only I could convince my hubby.

Off to clean then I get to make bunches of felt flowers for my Etsy shop.

Have a fabulous day and hope this card put a smile on your face :)

Andrea

on a mission...

I wake up on Sunday morning ready. I slip outside to pick up the paper which is tucked inside a damp plastic bag and dash back inside. Time to clear off the table and spill out the adds...now to begin my search. I clip, snip and pluck coupons from each booklet which is on my list, made the night before, and rush to get out the door. The excitement builds, and usually I take an accomplice...this week my six year old...and weave my way through the aisles with coupons in hand. Once the hunt for the products is complete I make my way to the front of the store. This is where I get nervous....why I am not sure, but maybe they will say "ma'am, you have too many coupons and are getting too much off...step away from the cart and exit the store". Ok a little dramatic, but I have always had a fear of getting cornered...someone pointing the finger at me and saying "don't do that". Another successful trip later, I have survived and now to relax and know that I made it through one more week of deals. Ahhh...a sigh of relief. My husband is excited now about what I get and no questions asked. Again, if you haven't hopped over to www.mylitterofsix.blogspot.com you need to.

Now that my mind is clear so many things to get to today.
When I first received the assignment for this weeks 365 Cards challenge I immediately was reminded of a card I saw in my mother's scrapbook from the 60's and 70's of a little girl. There is something about this stamp, from Sparkle Creations, that is vintage inspired. Went with a smaller card this week, approximately 4", to show off the image a little more since it is just so adorable! Make sure to stop by the blog to enter today's challenge and see more inspiration!

A reminder to also stop by the following challenges:

MelJen's Designs - Autumn Colors
Whimsie Doodles - Banners
Paper Garden Projects - Halloween Projects

Today is also a new mission from Mission To Create.

Make sure to hop on over to join in Mission #26 for a chance to win a prize.

Now to announce the winners for my giveaway...congratulations szbacn1 (the little house) and Jen T (set of cards). Contact me at andreascreativepapertrail@hotmail.com with your address. Also, a reminder to beulahmom for winning my previous giveaway...don't forget to contact me soon to claim your package!

Off to complete a few new projects for this week. I have a tutorial, new giveaway and a few special projects up my sleeve to share :) Have a wonderful Sunday and see you back here soon!

I will have felt flowers in bulk to list in my shop for a very short period of time along with tags, cards and a few more items. They will be offered for a very limited time and at a very low price. Contact me if you have any questions. I will begin listing on October 4th through October 30th.

Andrea

cut, sew and stash away...

Its Fourth Friday challenge time again over at Paper Garden Projects – can you believe it! Time sure flies!

This month, we want to see all your wonderful Halloween ideas! It can be any type of project: card, scrap page, alerted item, treat pack – we want to see them all. The only rule is that you link up a project newly created for this challenge, although feel free to combine it with other current challenges out there in blogland.

Although we would love to see all the art you care to share, everyone will be entered in the prize drawing only once. One winner will be drawn randomly to win the prize. You have until midnight (EST) on Saturday, October 2nd to link up your project. Just click the little froggy face at the bottom of this post to add your project.

Your prize this month is this wonderful Halloween sentiment cling stamp. Can’t wait to see what you create!
Now to share a little something made for the occasion...
Supplies used: bakery bag, festive fall clear stamp set, prism card stock (brown) and wrinkle ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique)

I love Halloween! The kids and I go on a decorating craze for the first week of October and with a bunch of felt lying around I thought why not create a little ornament. It was easy, about ten minutes, and as usual very fun. All free hand cut and quickly stitched. Doesn't have to be perfect...which is probably the best part.

Off to run Saturday errands and finish a few projects for tomorrow's post. Remember to hop on over to Paper Garden Projects, Whimsie Doodles and MelJen's Designs to enter in their drawings if you haven't already.

Also...you have one more day to enter my giveaway HERE!

Have an amazing day and see you back here tomorrow...busy, busy.

Andrea

falling for you...

I am ready...more than ready... for fall to begin. Bring on the cooler air, crisp breeze and holiday preparations and I will be one happy lady. With fall just around the corner the colors of fall are calling to make more of a presence in our everyday. Today, over at MelJen's Designs, our Thursday challenge is helping the feel of autumn come to be.

I used autumn leaf and acorn for my digi, isolating the acorn and resizing to create the falling effect. The leaf became the background piece which was enlarged as well. Make sure to hop on over to check out the new images, design team cards and enter for your chance to win!

Don't forget to check out my giveaway HERE. I will be keeping it open until Sunday, 9/26, at midnight. Also, hop on over to Whimsie Doodles banner challenge and enter in a chance to win a prize there as well!

Wishing you a fabulous day and see you back here tomorrow!

Andrea

is it time to sleep yet...

As the weeks go on and our school schedule is in full swing...it didn't take too long before we have all become exhausted. I worked late last night preparing for my challenge over at Whimside Doodles and realized this morning that I can no longer go on less than eight hours of peaceful sleep. Just when I feel like sitting down to rest...off to kid activities, homework and not to mention the pile of dishes and laundry that seem to come out of nowhere (really, how does that happen). One thing is for sure... I still love to play with paper!

So tomorrow I add another year to my age and have to say that this year has been a turning point in my life. A year full of fun getaways, tough decisions and many moments of laughter and joy. It has been a great journey to get to this point and hope that it continues along the same path. My four year old has promised me a pink diamond which, according to his measurements, will be about 1' x 2'. Don't think that it is in the cards, but just adorable and love this excitement. My six year old just wants to make sure he doesn't miss out on the cake...must take after his momma :)

To celebrate my challenge post of Whimsie Doodles today is all about banners. If you can get a chance to hop over and participate I would love to see your project and remember you could possibly win a digi! I did three projects, and for more detail hop on over to the blog and check them out.

Off to get some things done. Don't forget about the giveaways below...you could win one of two items! Will be back tomorrow for a MelJen's Design challenge.

Andrea

can you believe it...

Spent much of yesterday evening and my morning coupon cutting, shopping and practically jumping up and down with excitement over how much I saved today. Rather than spending my nights crafting I have a new obsession...couponing! After my dear friends introduced me about a month ago I can't stop...I am practically stalking the paper delivery man on Sunday mornings :) Finally I am getting the hang of this and my hubby sees it paying off...I drag him to the stores on Sunday to see me in action. If you haven't heard of it yet...mylitterofsix.blogspot.com is an amazing site. Because of it this was my trip, just today, at CVS...

I spent only....$2.86 on everything! Just sharing with you why I get so excited.

When I haven't been clipping I have been doing a lot of card and costume making for the busy holiday season to come. I am attempting my second...hopefully more successful...costume this year for my son and starting way in advance to make sure it works out as I have imagined.

Anyhoo...on to the really fun part of today. It is time to share with you two cards...one made for the Sunday 365 Cards challenge and the second...well, just because.

This week the challenges images by Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and they are just beautiful! I took digital paper and cropped it to use just a few of the flowers. Additional supplies used: round leaf digi stamp (little layered flowers) from MelJen's Designs.

This second card was created using the same digi pack, little layered flowers, from MelJen's Designs. Loved the pink from the first so was drawn to it when making this card.

Thank you for stopping by today and allowing me to share my goodies. If you haven't already... make sure to check out the blog post below for two giveaways I have going through the end of this week. Just leave a comment on that post for a chance to win!

Have a wonderful day and after a morning of shopping and swimming it is time to snuggle up with my little men, watch a movie, and maybe take a cat nap.

'til next time...

Andrea

tricks and treats...

Ok...so I don't have any tricks up my sleeve today, not that I really ever do...but plenty of treats to share. Today is the Halloween Garden Walk over at Paper Garden Projects and boy are there some wonderful projects being shared and a fabulous prize to be won...maybe by you?

So let's get started...

Its garden tour time again, and we would like to "treat" you to a Halloween Garden Walk. Don't worry, just treats - no tricks!

Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some not-so-spooky inspiration. This month we are focusing on Halloween - mostly on ways to serve up all those Halloween treats.

While you visit, take note of each designer's name and their special Halloween treat in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their garden walk word.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on Wednesday, September 22 to send your list.
And the prize? How a bout this super cute set of Eat Cake Graphics Halloween stamps?


Here is the garden tour guide list. Hope you find some "Boo"tiful ideas.....

Cathy
Amber
Tangii
Tricia
Linda
Andrea (me) my word... M&M...yummy!
Alyssa

Here are two projects I made for this festive hop...

Supplies used: 3" clear box, halloween window cling stamp, copic markers, wrinkle ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique, boo-tiful clear stampies from Nikki Sivils (bat, sentiments)

Supplies used: bay windows by Kaisercraft (Paper Garden Projects), buttons from Paper Garden Projects, copic markers, wrinkle ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique, freaky little friends digital stamps from Whimsie Doodle

Now to announce the winner of the card set posted early this past week. Congratulations to beulahmom! Contact me at andreascreativepapertrail@hotmail.com when you get a chance and I will send these right out to you.

Finally...before I head off to start on a very complex halloween costume (crossing my fingers)...I have two additional giveaways to present. There will be two winners choosen...just leave a comment on this post and I will pick a winner on Thursday!

Giveaway #1Giveaway #2

Good luck and enjoy the blog hop...which is a given I know :) Have a wonderful Saturday and see you back here tomorrow with cards from MelJen's Designs, 365 Cards and Whimsie Doodles!

Andrea

jumping over hurdles...

Seems like each day is filled with little hurdles...getting the kids off to school...homework...cooking a dinner everyone will eat (the biggest for me most days)...but sometimes there are things that sneak up unexpectedly that don't have an easy solution or fix. Something that challenges me and determined to kick my booty. Just waiting to figure out how to resolve these or gotta let it go.

Now to put those on the back burner for now and bring two new projects today from my Nikki Sivils DT post for which I hope you enjoy.

Supplies Used: something for everyone paper, my friend birdie paper, brown burlap buttons, u r my favorite clear stamp (scroll), wrinkle ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique, butterfly embellishment from Creations by AR, sweet chips little folding house from Paper Garden Projects, strawberry clear stamp set from Paper Garden Projects

Supplies Used: blueberry hill paper, cool cord brads, wrinkle ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique, haute tote template from Creations by AR

Don't forget the giveaway on the previous post. You have until Thursday to enter! Also, working on a fun Halloween project to share with you soon...can't wait.

Have a wonderful day and see you soon!

Andrea

with a little encouragement...

We all can use a little pick me up and encouragement once and awhile to achieve something grand, what may have seemed like the impossible or just keep us going throughout the day. My children get a good does of this, but it is a day like yesterday when it just isn't enough and you must bring all of your resources together to get over the hump. We are currently working on several big steps with our first grader and confidence is a little lean on his end. After trying to assist with learning to ride a bike and his worry mounting over falling off the...which has never happened...I hit my favorite instructional video site YouTube for some advice and hoping to get him back on this evening and try this again. By the time our second child is ready we should have this down...right?

After a busy week away I am here to share a few projects created this week and a giveaway! So to just jump right into it...
Seeing that another school year has begun it is only fitting for this month's theme over at MelJen's Designs takes us back to the classroom. This digital image, little chalk board, is perfect for any project. I used the chalk board and apple image (cropped, resized and flipped) to create this card. Remember that you can use a digital image as is or crop it as desired. This gives you so many more options for styling!Hop on over to 365 Cards for some truly AMAZING creations today! This week's stamps were provided by DRS Designs (sentiment and vine). Also used ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique, a new die set and adhesive pearls from Paper Garden Projects.

At first I scrambled to find a few pieces to complete this week's Mission 25 for Mission To Create, but in the end I was able to use all five concepts. After running low on adhesive, thread and foam tape I pulled it together. Check out the blog this week's mission and enter your card to win!

Finally, I have put together a little giveaway which will end on Thursday at midnight...

All you have to do is leave a comment here and I will pick one winner and post it on Friday. I have two more giveaways to following come Friday!

Have a wonderful week and see you back here soon!

Andrea

take me to the country...

There are those days that make me want to pack up and move the family to the country. I dream of running around acres of grassy fields...laying out soaking up the sun without having neighbors all around...picking from the wild blackberry bushes and splashing in the backyard stream. These things made up my childhood and after living in the city now for many years I am finding myself day dreaming more often of this type life and longing for my kids to have the freedom that a country life could bring. But...as this is far from reality at this moment in time we must move ahead and make the best of what we are given.

Anyway, I have been hit with a packed schedule now that school has begun and waiting for our days to settle in more comfortably and find time to actually post my projects in a timely manner. Oops...but I am here to share and hope you enjoy. Immediately following this post I will be gathering a felt goodies together for the next giveaway with a few cards and tags. It is long overdue!
Whimsie Doodles has released an amazing bunch of new images and can't wait to get going on a few more projects to showcase just how adorable they truly are! For this project I used the apple image from "school goodies" to create a front to this little gift bag. The gift bag portion was part of a template from Creations by AR, enlarged the apple to approximately 5" and gave it a little detail by using a wood grain background stamp from Paper Garden Projects. I topped it all off with a vintage glass button, ruffle trims and ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique.

This card was created for 365 Cards Sketchy Sunday and the images were provided by Wink Wink Ink.

Off to play a little in my craft room to get a few more fun projects underway. It has been suggested that I think about reopening my card shop on Etsy from friends and family...I just don't know if this is in my near future, but do miss the interaction with so many wonderful friends! Maybe just keeping this blog more up-to-date would work :)

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Andrea