Happy Fall!

Today at The Craft's Meow blog we are showcasing Happy Fall designed by Maree Truelove for The Craft's Meow, which will be released on October 1st! Please stop by our blog for links to see the wonderful cards created by the design team and for a chance to win this stamp set!

I'm playing in the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge... it's been far too long... I LOVE Karen's sketches! I paired the images from Happy Fall
with patterned paper by Nikki Sivils and a bit of burlap.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to see you over at the TCM blog!

As We Gather Together

Today we begin previews of the FIVE stamp sets being released by The Craft's Meow on October 1st! First up is the fabulous set designed by Kaitlyn Ord called "As We Gather Together." There are some fabulous autumn greetings and icons in this set... you will love it! Be sure to stop by The Craft's Meow blog to see what the design team has created with this set and for a chance to win!

See you there!

Wishing You Sunshine

Happy Saturday! Happy Fall! I know this is kind of a funny card for me to be making this time of year, but I'm using up scraps I've discovered while cleaning up my craft room... you know, the ones that are too good to toss... and, trust me, I've tossed a lot...gone are the days of keeping every little scrap. :) Besides, living here in Southern California, where it's HOT HOT HOT, rain is the best I get when it comes to changing seasons. And I happen to LOVE rain. So thanks for indulging me with this sweet image called Rainy Day Ruby from my dear friend Sparkle's store. :)

I made this card for this week's sketch at Sketch Saturday. Our sponsor is The Craft Barn, offering an amazing prize to one lucky player! Be sure to check out the post for all the details and to see the design team's cards...they are spectacular!!!

This is my last hurrah as a design team member for Sketch Saturday. It's been a great run, and I sincerely thank Jo for inviting me to be a part of it all. I was so proud to be the only designer from the US on the team, and it was a really hard decision to step down. But my focus needs to be elsewhere now.  I hope you all will continue to visit their blog and play... the sketches are among the best!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Hay There!

HAY there! Happy Friday! It's time for another fabulous Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!!! You can find us over at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum. In fact, all you need to do is pop over to the TESC Sketch Challenge #147 Forum Thread for all the deets on this week's challenge, to grab the sketch and find out how you can win a $10 Gift Certificate to spend at TE by playing along with us... or a $20 GC if you use TE stamps!

What a fun sketch! I thought it was perfect for this ADORABLE stamp set called Green Acres. Of course, it coordinates perfectly with patterned paper from the Farmhouse collection by October Afternoon... and oldy but a goody (just like the TV show Green Acres...haha!).

For lots of great inspiration, check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created!

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
  
• Lisa Hjulberg
  
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
  
• Monika Davis
• Taylor VanBruggen
  
• Tracy Clemente
• Guest Stampers: Bonnie, Michelle

Oh, and be sure to stop by the TE Blog to see pix of our newest TE member, Taylor and Jon's brand new baby Madelyn Grace!!! She's sooooo sweet!!!

Have a great day!

Operation Julie's Smile

Many now know that a few weeks ago, Julie Ranae had to have emergency oral surgery resulting in the removal of her two front teeth.  The dentist at that time believed the best course of action would be to remove the rest of her teeth and replace them with permanents so as to avoid years of dental work. Relieved at finding a solution to this major dental problem, Julie returned to the office for dental surgery. Unfortunately, it wasn't the visit she was expecting.  After consultation and scheduling the surgery, the surgeon's office informed her that she would need to bring $4000 to the appointment before they would proceed. Also, this amount would not include the cost of dentures following the surgery.

So here Julie is today, without front teeth that were pulled with the belief that they would be replaced immediately. It is an overwhelming experience for her and one her friends hope our creative community can help with.

There will be a benefit blog hop called Operation Julie's Smile that will take place Oct 7-9.  There are a variety of companies and design teams who will be participating in this hop to help raise funds for this benefit. So far, approximately $1000 in prizes have been made available and will be awarded for both participants and those who donate!

Operation Julie's Smile is now accepting designers/teams who would like to be a part of the benefit hop.  If you are interested in getting involved in this creative fundraising event, please contact Nicole Rixon at nicolehrixon@gmail.com. The deadline to be a part of the hop is Wednesday, Sept 28th.  Participants will be notified of the blog hop order between Oct 3rd and 5th.

This blog hop is an opportunity to have fun, feature your design work, and raise money for a friend in need! A donation button will be made available to all who participate.

Julie is a member of my design team at The Craft's Meow, which is how I've gotten to know her. I actually first "met" Julie on Facebook when we enjoyed the Royal Wedding together... we were two of a few who were Facebooking during the ceremony to help keep each other awake! lol  Anyway, Julie is a friendly and outgoing person, always willing to lend a hand to others. I'm grateful for all she does for me and for The Craft's Meow, and I'm sick at heart about what she's going through. So The Craft's Meow is proud to be a sponsor of Operation Julie's Smile, and I personally will be participating in the blog hop. I hope you'll join us!

In the meantime, you can offer a donation at any time by clicking the button below.

Thank you so much for having a giving heart! Together we CAN make a difference!

Happy Day!

Happy Saturday! Whew, I almost didn't get this post up while it's still Saturday... at least here in the US. I know I've got too much on my mind when I totally forgot that yesterday was Friday and that I needed to get my card done for Sketch Saturday. It's either that or I'm going senile. (*grin*) I remembered right before I had to leave for a birthday party, so had to wait until today to make my card. So sorry for the delay!

What I like about this sketch is that it's sort of like piecing together a quilt. It's perfect for pulling together bits and pieces of coordinating paper. I used Schoolhouse by October Afternoon. That sweet image is by Stampin Up! from a set called Greeting Card Kids. Love! The greeting is by SRM.

Please stop by the Sketch Saturday blog to see all the wonderful creations from the design team ladies. And then join us for some fun! This week's sponsor is Bunny Zoe's Crafts, offering a 10 pound gift certificate to spend in their store!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Hoo Loves You?

Happy Saturday! Time for another wonderful sketch challenge at Sketch Saturday!! Simon Says Stamp is sponsoring this week's sketch challenge, offering a $25 gift certificate as a prize!

Isn't this a yummy sketch? In my quest to clean out my craft room, I'm running across paper scraps and stamps that have yet to see ink, and I'm determined to use them. This My Mind's Eye paper has owls in it, which reminded me of this adorable Hoo Loves You stamp set by The Greeting Farm which I had yet to use. A perfect match!

I gave this card to my dear friend Alicia, who loves owls. We had a crafty night together last night, which is always such a pleasure. I definitely do love that girl! ;)

Please stop by the Sketch Saturday blog to see all the wonderful creations from the design team ladies. They are an amazing group of artists who are sure to inspire and delight you.

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge

Happy Friday! What are you planning for the weekend? Any paper crafting? Well, if so, why don't you join us for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!!! You can find us over at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum. In fact, all you need to do is pop over to the TESC Sketch Challenge #146 Forum Thread for all the deets on this week's challenge, to grab the sketch and find out how you can win a $10 Gift Certificate to spend at TE by playing along with us... or a $20 GC if you use TE stamps!

We've got a square card sketch this week, which I love! I pulled out a new favorite TE stamp set...  Treasure Life...and the coordinating Apothecary Jars dies. Dew Drops were used to create the jars' contents. ;) The patterned paper, lace and ribbon were some scraps I found while cleaning up (purging) my craft room... a task long overdue! I'm still miles away from finishing, but at least I'm chipping away at it a little each day. At this rate, I might be done by Christmas! Just kidding. It better not take that long.

For lots of great inspiration, check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created!

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
  
• Lisa Hjulberg
  
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
  
• Monika Davis
• Taylor VanBruggen
  
• Tracy Clemente 
• Guest Stampers: Jessica, Chris

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fabulous weekend! See you at the TE Sketch Challange, k?

Sketch Saturday

Happy Saturday! And to all my American friends, Happy Labor Day Weekend! If you're casting about for a good sketch challenge this weekend, why not pop over to Sketch Saturday? I'm excited to say that my little store, The Craft's Meow, is sponsoring this week's sketch challenge! The prize up for grabs is a TCM stamp set of choice!!!

 As this week's hostess, it was my job to come up with a sketch, and here's the one I created for you to play with. I hope you likey!

I decided to showcase one of the two new stamp sets just released at The Craft's Meow called Happy H'owl'oween by Jenny Suchin Designs, paired with It's A Banner Day by Nina B Designs. I know it seems a little early for Halloween cards, but I couldn't resist! ;)

I hope you'll come along and play with us this week! Be sure to stop by the Sketch Saturday blog to see all the wonderful creations from the design team ladies, including our special guest designer, Jessica Fick, who made a gorgeous card featuring Little Frieda. ;)

Have a fabulous day!