The Start of a New Year

Another post so soon? Well, this is more like a teaser post. Notice anything new on my sidebar? No? Take a closer look ... something is coming ... soon ... and I will be roaring with pride ... be sure to check back for more hints in the coming week ... xoxo!

Happy New Year and My Blog Hop Winner!

Happy New Year everyone! Wow, I can't believe how long I've been away from my blog! I'm so sorry - I was on vacation after the blog hop and went to the mainland. Well, I got sick on my trip and when I returned home, I got worse so I was out of commission for a good couple of weeks. Finally started feeling better before Christmas and New Years, but wouldn't you know it, my allergies started up in a major way because of the vog from the Big Island!

ANYHOO, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebration and to start this year off, I want to announce my blog candy winner from the Tis The Season to Hop blog hop! Thanks to all of you who became followers and commented on my projects ... the winner is CRAFTY PLEASER! Ms. Jordan, please e-mail me your mailing address and I will send your prize right out to you!

Well, I hope to be creating more this year (that's one of my goals) and sharing my creations with you. Thanks for sticking by me through thick and thin - it surely means a lot to me! Until next time, take care!

'Tis The Season To Hop - Day 3

Hey all! Welcome to Day 3 of the 'Tis The Season To Hop blog hop! Have you been inspired to create some of our projects yet? We sure hope so! Again, I want to thank our lovely hostess, Elsa, for allowing me to hop along with such an amazing group of crafters. Thanks Lady!!! Now, if you are visiting my blog by chance, and would like to participate in the blog hop, it's not too late! Just start at the beginning, Day 1, here. Don't forget to leave comments on all the blogs to win some super candy that Elsa will be giving away! If you're on the right track, you should have come here from Kimi's sweet blog.

On to my final project. I originally had made a different calendar project for this hop, but I decided at the last moment (really - just about an hour ago) that the project wasn't very gift appropriate (unless you are a total TWILIGHT fan, like me). I'll be posting that project later (think BREAKING DAWN). Anyhoo, my GF Brenda gave me a post-it note/calendar last year, which is what inspired my project. Here's what I came up with ...

Super simple to make! Took me about 20 minutes to figure out the measurements and the scoring and then it all came together! The base is actually only one piece of cardstock, 4"x12"! Sort of like an easel card but just a little different. Thanks to my GF Cami for teaching me this quick short cut to make an easel!

The butterfly is something I had made a while ago and had it sitting on my desk just waiting to be used on a special project. Can you tell what the butterfly is made out of? Hydrangea flowers! I found a tutorial on YouTube and had to try it. Super easy!

Well, I hope you like my SIMPLE projects I created for this hop. I'm very happy with the way they all turned out and I truly hope you are inspired to give something homemade this Christmas. Now, here's what I have up for grabs:

These are CC Designs rubber stamps, from the Sugarplums line. In order to win these stamps, you must have commented all three days on my projects. Also, in your final comment today, tell me which of the three was your favorite and why. Instead of using Random Generator, I will be picking the winner. Thanks again everyone, for stopping by and participating in this special holiday hop! Please continue hopping on over to Margaret's blog for more fantastic ideas! Until next time, take care. Aloha, Linda

'Tis The Season To Hop - Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of the 'Tis The Season to Hop blog hop! Hope you're enjoying the wonderful projects we've all come up with. If you've stumbled upon my blog by chance and want to join the hop, please start at Elsa's blog here. I met Elsa on the Mini Album Scraps ning site and I am so honored that she asked me to be a part of this very special holiday hop! Thanks lady - love you to bits! Anyhoo, if you're hopping, you should've come from Kimi's blog. Kimi is another wonderful lady I met on Mini Album Scraps - please check out the site when you have a chance - it's a wonderful place to be!

On to my project for Day 2. Here's another simple gift card holder. This one is a slider.

The gift card goes in the little pocket which then slides into the sleeve. This one took me a while to figure out the measurements, but I'm very satisfied with the way it turned out!

It lays pretty flat, with just enough dimension to look pretty!

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope we've inspired you to create handmade gifts and things for the holiday season! Don't forget to comment on each participating blog to win some fantastic blog candy up for grabs! Please continue hopping on to Margaret's blog here for more holiday cheer! I hope you'll come back tomorrow for another simple project - this time it's not a gift card holder ... hmm - what could it be? See you tomorrow! Aloha, Linda

'Tis the Season to Hop - Day 1

Happy Aloha Friday everyone! Hope you all had a great week! I want to welcome you to our blog hop, 'Tis the Season to Hop! I have joined a bunch of talented ladies (our lovely Hostess is Elsa) to share with you some awesome Christmas themed projects. We will be hopping for three days, starting today (December 2nd through the 4th). Some of the ladies in the hop will be offering CANDY so look out for those goodies. Also, make sure you become my follower and comment all three days of the hop on all the participating blogs in order to win the CANDY Elsa will be giving away on her blog. We hope to inspire you to create and give homemade gifts and cards this year. You should have come here from Kimi's blog. If you arrived here by chance, please go back to the beginning to start the hop.

On to today's project. I wanted to make a simple gift card holder that would look like a mini wallet. This is what I came up with:

There are two pockets, one for the gift card and the other one for a gift tag.

Side view ...

That's it for day one - thanks for stopping by and please continue hopping on over to Margaret's blog here. Remember to come back tomorrow for another simple project! I'll have some candy to give away to one lucky person who leaves comments for me on all three days ... but you'll have to wait until the last day of the hop to see what it is! See you tomorrow and happy hopping! Aloha, Linda

November ATCs

Wow - it's November and I'm actually posting my November ATCs! What a miracle ... LOL! So here's what I came up with ... I used cutie patootie Setsuna from Sister Stamps! If you haven't already done so, please check out their blog here to see the entire line of Sister Stamps and the fantastic creations that have been made with the images.


The theme this month for the Pineapple Cove ATC swap was "A White Christmas with an Asian Flair". As soon as I heard that, I knew that I had to use Setsuna.


I used 3-D glue for the furry part of his hat, and also used a corner punch that I think gives the card an asian feel. I then added some cherry blossom die cuts. The white ones were cut from a die I got at Photo Craft. Brian designed this die which includes five different sizes of cherry blossoms, along with several different styles and sizes of stamins (the middle part of the flower).

The red cherry blossoms I got from my GF Jenny. I usually hoard these flowers because they come all the way from Island Scrapbooking in Hilo. However, Jenny has been spoiling me lately, so I have quite a few of these flowers now and don't feel the need to hoard them anymore. Thanks Jenny!

Sorry for the long post. I'll be posting a few more projects in the coming days. Hope you'll come back and check them out. Until then, take care and be good. ***FIVE MORE DAYS UNTIL BREAKING DAWN PART 1!!!***

October SSS

This is my last SSS card for the year. Can you tell what the theme was? I had fun making this card. Lots of "firsts" with this one. First time using Swiss Pixies Halloween Hansel. He's so cute! First time using patterned paper that has a "scene" on it. Paper is from Cosmo Cricket. First time using the "out of the box" technique with my Nesties. Very easy to do and I will definitely use this technique again.


Finished off the card with my MS mice border punch (thanks to my BFF for hunting this punch down last year), and Whimsy Stamps ticket die and sentiment. Hope you're having a great week and Happy Veterans Day. Thanks for stopping by and until next time, be good.

October ATCs

Boo! Ok, so Halloween is over, but I still wanted to share my October ATCs with you. If you're interested in participating in this ATC swap, head on over to Pineapple Cove's blog here for more info.

Here are my 3 cards. You can't tell, but the card is actually made from kraft cardstock. I used the Tim Holtz limited release distress inks on this project and they were darker than I expected. That's ok though - I like the way they came out.


I also bought these Halloween beads at a bead show specifically for these ATCs. I knew that I wanted to try making stick pins with them, and I love how they turned out! I hope whoever got my cards liked them too.


I used paper from Cosmo Cricket and my MS spider border punch. Flowers from my stash finished the ATCs up. Thanks for stopping by today. I really appreciate it! Until next time, take care.

September C.A.T.S.

My last card and tag swap for the year. Finally inked up this sweet Greeting Farm image and I can't remember her name. Flirty Anya? She's so sweet huh? I used some new paper from Authentique - I love their stuff.


I'm pretty happy with the way this set turned out. Thanks for stopping by and until next time, take care!

September SSS

Hey all ~ I can't believe its November already and I'm only posting projects from September! Oh well, you know me - always late ... Anyhoo, here's the card I made for my September SSS. I used sweet Ayako from the Sister Stamps line. Check out their blog to see some of the cutest creations ever! The banner and sentiment is from Lawn Fawn.


Thanks for stopping by today. I'll be posting a few more things so I hope you'll come back! Until then, take care.