A Fairy Tale Blog Hop!

Welcome to La-La Land Crafts' Fairy Tale Release Blog Hop! To celebrate the release of the new Princess Rosie stamp, we are giving her the royal treatment. Each member of the La-La Land Crafts Design Team and the Guest Designers has made a card featuring Princess Rosie. To make the Blog Hop even more fun, along with some amazing cards, you will find clues (a secret word or two) on every blog. When you follow the order of the Blog Hop and get to the end, you will have collected all of the words and will be able to put them together into a sentence. You will then return to the La-La Land Crafts Blog and leave a comment to enter the drawing for the Blog Candy.

What's in it for you???

Besides seeing all of the gorgeous cards from our Design Team, the winner of the Blog Hop will receive the newly released Princess Rosie stamp along with these goodies:


What's even more? While on your treasure hunt for secret words, you might even find some more treats offered by our designers!!! And, best of all, Princess Rosie is now available for purchase at La-La Land Crafts!!!

What do you have to do to join our Blog Hop????

* Start your Blog Hop at the La-La Land Crafts' Blog

* Each DT Member will guide you to the next Blog during the Blog Hop

* Collect all of the secret words and put them together into a sentence

* Final stop is back at the La-La Land Crafts Blog where you must leave a comment to the blog hop post to enter the contest. The winner will be drawn on Wednesday, December 23rd, around 10 am PST.

Now, on with the fun. If you haven't started from the beginning, be sure to click over to the La-La Land Crafts Blog to start the hop. To continue on your journey, here is my card featuring Princess Rosie:


My clue is "ALL OF YOUR"

Now... Hop, hop, hop to KATHY's Blog to find your next clue!! Good luck to all!!!

Before you go, leave a comment here to be entered to win Sweet Rosie! The deadline to enter my drawing is Tuesday, December 22nd at 9:00 pm Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -8), and I will announce the winner on Wednesday December 23rd!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a la-la lovely day!

Birthday Blog Candy Winners!!!

I'm sorry for being so late posting this announcement today. At least it's still Tuesday in California...at least for another 20 minutes or so. Ha!

First, I want to thank each and every one of you who entered my blog candy drawing... most especially for your good wishes for my birthday. I must say that this has been one of the most wonderful and memorable birthdays for me. Receiving 143+ greetings from my blogging friends was certainly a highlight!

When I say I wish I could send each and every one of you a gift, I truly mean that.

Okay, drum roll please! The winners have already been contacted to make their choices. They were allowed to choose their prizes in the order their names were drawn. I'm happy to say the first three winners each got her first choice, so that was lucky.

#85 Inbar from Israel - Hodge Podge of Stamps
#4 Dawn (Craftykitten) from the UK - Designer Paper
#21 1luvnmama from Hawaii - Paper Pretties
#49 Rosalee from Canada - Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps
#56 Victoria (Creativka) from Republic of Moldova - Build-A-Bear

I included the location of each of the winners to show what a diverse pool of crafters we are. Isn't it marvelous that we can make friends with people all over the world thanks to this incredible thing called the Internet?

By the way, I tried to respond to as many comments as I could, but many of you don't have your email addresses connected to your blog addresses nor anywhere on your blogs. I'm still trying to get around to visit everyone, so please bear with me.

Have a wonderful day!

Hey Sweet Pea!

A quick post today to showcase this adorable stamp set called Punny Fruits & Veggies... one of this month's new releases from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps. They are perfect for all sorts of fun cards, but Valentine cards are beginning to come to mind. I could see making up some of each for my child's class exchange... how fun!

The paper is from My Mind's Eye. I tried out my new Spellbinders frame for the first time, and once again pulled out my MS deep cut punch... love it! There really is more dimension and embossing to the frame than appears in the picture. I also paper-toled the leaves and baby peas. This would have been a fun shaker card. In fact, I think I'm going to do that very thing next time, so stay tuned!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is holding three Design Team Calls, one for each its rubber stamp line, its digi line, and for guest designers. If you're interested in joining a very talented and lovely group of Christian women, you should definitely check it out. I know I've been truly blessed by my participation.

There is also a huge clearance sale going on and... as always...all stamps are marked down at least 25%. Many are now marked down 70%. Like my husband Paul would say, the more you spend, the more you save!

Have a wonderful day, my friends. I'll be back soon with the winners of my Birthday Blog Candy!

A Christmas Flower

A blessed Third Sunday in Advent to you! Can you believe there are only 12 more days until Christmas? Yikes! I'm telling myself it's okay... nothing dire will happen if I don't get to everything on my list. The most important thing is to concentrate on the Reason for the Season, and that is to ponder on the wondrous birth of Jesus and what that means to each and every one of us.

Today's hostess for the challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is my BFF and co-founder Kristine Breach. Kris chose as the inspiration scripture Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

What comes to my mind when reading this scripture is the concept of "paying it forward." I think it's imperative for us to give a portion of our treasures to others, but not just the monetary kind. I'm not suggesting that we not tithe or give to charity... of course we should...but I think this verse is reminding us that if we share our treasures (i.e., our time, talents, love and bounty) with others, we experience Heaven on earth. These treasures cannot be stolen from us or destroyed. They are everlasting!

The challenge is to get out your crafting *treasures* and use them on your cards or other projects this week, in other words BLING IT UP (i.e., charms, gems, pearls, dazzling diamonds, flowers, etc). Simon Says Stamp is once again our sponsor and has donated the CUTEST stamp set for a prize. Please do pop by the SSCC blog to check it out and see all the lovely creations by the rest of the SSCC Design Team. I love those girls!

Bling? Did someone say "bling"? You don't need to ask me twice to add bling...I love bling!

I've had this Layers of Color stamp set for awhile and hadn't yet had a chance to ink it up. It came to mind immediately when I read the challenge. Flowering Gems was designed to add gems and pearls...and for layering. I stamped my flowers on Prism Blush Red Dark cardstock (and the leaves on PTI's Spring Moss) and embossed with white. I used Kaisercraft rhinestones and pearls to decorate the flower. Love it!

That gorgeous paper is by Nina Brackett for GinaK Designs... Simple Elegance. It's digital paper, so instant gratification! The green pairs perfectly with Papertrey Ink's Spring Moss (including the ribbon). I used my Bow Easy to make the double bow. I'm entering this card in the Mojo Monday 116 Contest. Wish me luck!

Thanks so much for dropping by today. Today is the last day to enter to win some of my blog candy! I want to thank each of you who have left me such nice comments and birthday wishes. It means the world to me! I wish I could send each of you something for Christmas.

Discover Your Wings

Hey hey hey...Happy Friday everyone! Time for another fun Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!

Don't you just love the stamps I used for my card? They are from the newest release in the Taylored Expressions Whimsical Wishes line called Discover Your Wings. Not only are they incredibly beautiful stamps, but $7 from the sale of each Discover Your Wings stamp set will be donated to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. You can read all about it on Taylor's blog here.

I was able to put this card together quickly using the Bloom and Grow Card Kit. I'm just loving these new kits... everything is ready for you to make at least 10 cards plus a matching box. I bought one of each to make Christmas gifts for Grandma E, my mother-in-law, and my step-mother. I think they'll love them, and I'll sure have fun making them. It's supposed to rain buckets this weekend, so I'll tuck in with a fire in the fireplace and the tree all decorated and craft to my heart's content. I can hardly wait! (Of course, the soft sounds of the washer and dryer will be going in the background. Ha!)

Today is my last day of commuting to Santa Ana for the class I've been taking this week... it's exam time! I wish I could be as sure of the traffic as I am about passing the exam. It's supposed to rain, so who knows how long it will take to get there and back. You wouldn't believe how lucky I was yesterday... both on the way there AND on the way back, I was part of the first wave of cars to pass fresh accidents, meaning I got by before the back-up really started. Fortunately, neither accident looked very serious. I'll be glad to go back to my 10-minute drive to work on city streets next Monday.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. Before you head off to play in this week's sketch challenge, be sure to check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew created for your viewing pleasure and inspiration:

Jami Sibley: More is More
Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity
Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme

Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode
Alice Lihsuan-Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
and of course Taylor herself: Taylored Expressions

These girls rock!

I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

I shared several cards I received from dear friends for my birthday in the post entitled The 11th Anniversary of my 39th Birthday. Since then, I've received even more. Am I blessed or what??

From Desiree McAllister
(no blog...yet!)

From Helen Phelps

From Peggysue Turner

From Sara Grunert

From Sarah Sharp-Aten

Thank you ladies... and to my friends who sent me some awesome store-bought cards which were very funny... some perhaps not suitable for prime time (ha!)... and to my boys who bought me one of those Hallmark music cards. On the outside it says, "The world would be a better place if we all remembered who's really in charge." When you open it you hear Hail to the Chief! hahahahahahaha!!! That's exactly right: Happy Wife = Happy Life!!! I'm going to keep it and play it for them whenever they forget. Which is, like, every day. Ha!

Hopefully this weekend I'll get pictures from our day at Disneyland uploaded and can share a few with you. Until then, have a wonderful day!!!

Walking in a Winter Lala Land!

Hello my friends! Have you missed me? Well, I really haven't been gone that long... just a couple of days. I'm commuting again this week to Santa Ana for the second of four core classes to earn my CCIM designation. Some of you might remember me sending "postcards from the freeway" last time. I am NOT good at commuting. The traffic is enough to send me over the edge. And wouldn't you know that after longing for some winter weather, I finally get my wish... just when it's time for me to get on the freeway every day this week. Argh! Folks out here don't seem to understand the concept of slowing down when it's pouring rain.

All I can say is Thanks be to God for keeping me safe and for Christmas music, which helps jolly me along when I'm creeping at 2-5 mph for 30-45 minutes (I kid you not!). Speaking of which, have you heard Josh Groban's rendition of It Came Upon A Midnight Clear? OMGoodness! And I can't help but turn up all of The Carpenters' tunes. Karen Carpenter is one of my all-time favorite singers, probably because she's an alto so I can actually sing along reasonably well. Okay, so I'm only a star in my own shower (and car).

If you happen to see a dark-haired woman in a white Camry singing to herself on the 241 merging into the 91, let me in! {LOL}

Of course, if it's Wednesday, it's time for another fabulous La-La's Weekly Wednesday Challenge, and I happen to be the hostess this week! I picked a color challenge because I'm LOVING the new Christmas colors of pink and green. So the challenge this week is to use pink and green (and a neutral of your choice, if you so desire) in your card/project. How easy is that?

There's a prize up for grabs, so why not play along??? You can use any stamps you want!!!

My card features the adorable Winter Lala. I decided to paper piece her hat, jacket and skirt. The DP is from the Lemonade collection by Basic Grey. And that fabulous snowflake you see... that was created by my BFF Debbie Pamment and sent to me with a few others for my birthday. They are so nice, I told Debbie I hate to use them on my cards 'cause then I'll have none left, but she promised me more if I want them. Beautiful, isn't it? That's why I say that Lala is walking in a winter "lala" land... where else would you see snowflakes that big and beautiful? Irina says she looks like she just made a snow angel. I love that!

The sketch is by Karen Giron for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #47. I just recently discovered Karen's sketch challenges and LOVE what I see. I will definitely play again.

I have a post scheduled tomorrow of more beautiful handmade birthday cards I received, and then I'll be back on Friday with the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge, and hopefully back to normal (whatever that is!) by the weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Christmas Blessings

Today is a glorious day... the Second Sunday in Advent. I just love the holy seasons of Christmas and Easter and the special services at church. They refresh my soul!

Speaking of soul refreshing, our hostess for today's scripture challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is the wonderful Ceal Pritchett, who is also my DT sister for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps... and Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is once again the sponsor of our challenge! Yay Korin! Thank you soooo much!

Ceal chose the following scripture for inspiration: 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (NIV)

Ceal's challenge is to make a card to let someone you know that you are praying for them, using images of people.

As I said in the SSCC blog post, while we most certainly should pray for others, we should also pray for ourselves. I don't mean this in a selfish way. Today's scripture tells us to humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face, and He will hear us. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him, and we do that in large part by talking to Him through our prayers. There is certainly no greater path to joy, solace and peace than by turning to God and allowing Him to be the father He wants to be to each of us.

My card might not appear to go along with the challenge, but my prayer for each of you is for Christmas blessings.

The sweet image is a digi stamp by Chris Dickinson for Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps called The Greatest Gift. The DP is more of the scrumptious holiday paper by Webster's Pages, as is the lace. I followed Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #50, although I mine is square. I'm totally hooked on Mercy's sketches!

Enabler alert: Korin has added some seasonal stamps to the clearance sale... 70% off!!! You also MUST check out the two new releases for this month, Punny Fruits & Veggies and Trees of the Field.

I'm so glad you stopped by today. Don't forget... there's still one more week to enter for a chance to win one of my five Birthday Blog Candy prize packages! See the link at the top of my blog.