Time to Celebrate!

 Hi Everyone!  Hope you are having a nice long holiday weekend!  I'm so glad to have a three day weekened... I really need some rest!  While I go take a nap, you can check out my samples below and see what our DT has been up to.  Speaking of DT.. did you figure out who our Guest Designer is?  Yup!  If you are on YouTube, you probably have come across Ohaijoy!  She has the cutest screen name ever.... O-Hi!-Joy!  So cute yah?  It totally matches her personality too.  We met on YouTube because I loved watching her drawing videos and Aloha Friday chat series.   She is originally from Hawaii but now lives on the mainland.  It's really funny how we can meet and become friends just through social media!  We probably would have never met if she'd never posted videos even though we are both from Hawaii.

So.. go check out her channel here to see what she's done with our images.  Oh and by the way.. she is the panda queen.. that's why I think I was drawn to her too as I love pandas!  Always have... since I was a kid.  She is also a geek and loves Star Wars (esp. R2D2) and if you know my family, you'll know that my husband is Mr. Star Wars, so we have a lot in common.  You'll love her channel as much as I do..

And not to forget about the rest of the DT... We have such a great bunch of creative ladies!  I can't wait to see what they did with our pandas...

Eva
Debi
Linda
Linda's You Tube


And now for my project(s)!  If you've been following me from the beginning, you'll know that I usually create samples for the retailers that order from me. This time I really wanted to incorporate some pocket scrapbooking cards I found by Snap! Although they are met for scrapbooking, I thought the birthday set had some great sentiments that you could use on a card!

Wanted to keep things relatively simple, so didn't add much layers to the cards.  Created my own background on some by using my new Prima Bloom Sprays (which I've been waiting to get my hands on).  For fun, I decided to play with some sequins I bought too.  It's a great way to add fun without too much bulk.

After I ran out of the sprayed backgrounds, I decided to use some scraps.  Since this card could stand against a busy background (by Doodlebug), I thought it was a great combo!  Added in some enamel dots since that seemed to match the card better than the sequins.

And I managed to find a light teal colored card, so I combined it with the pastel colored Doodlebug paper for a fun girly card.

Just wanted to share some simple, easy to do cards that don't take a lot of time to make.  I cranked all of these out in one night.

So don't forget to check out all the girls and enter to win our blog candy if you haven't entered yet!  Happy Labor Day!

Right Around The Corner

 So, earlier I gave you a huge hint on who our guest designer might be for this release... any guesses?  Well, if you are on You Tube or Instagram, this is probably a no-brainer... Check out this panda-maniac on her YT channel here...

 Did you guess correctly?  I'll tell you more about our guest designer tomorrow.  Don't forget to check out the rest of our DT!  They had a little break but are back with some fun new projects featuring our new pandas!

Eva
Debi
Linda
Linda's You Tube

So you are probably wondering about my post title?  Yes... I do realize we are still in August (mind you the end of August), but before you know it, it will be the end of the year and time to bust out your new 2015 calender!  Most of you may not know, but I host a craft fair at my house every year for my crafty friends and one of my biggest sellers are my calenders.  I try to change things up every year since I'm sure no one wants the same calender year after year.  While brainstorming, I thought of trying out something different by using a canvas board as the base.  This one in particular came in a pack of 10 and is 5x7".  All I did was cover the base with some black card stock.

The background scratch mark looking die cut is actually a die by Dee's Distinctively Dies called Lattice 1.  It's quite large, so you need to have a larger base to be used on cards. It cuts nicely too.. I think they have another version called Lattice 2 that I might also need to pick up!  It's so simple but makes a nice background for any asian card!

Again I couldn't resist putting both pandas on the calender!  Here's Ling Ling...

And Po....

The kanji stamp was an afterthought.  I felt like that right hand corner needed something and decided on a sentiment.   Since it was for a calender, I thought Prosperity was a fitting sentiment.

And here's my trusty mini calendars. Makes making calendars so easy peasy!

Oh.. and this 2015 is a lasercut from Island Scrapbooking.  Originally I got them cut for a 12x12 calender, but decided that it would still work on this size too.

And in case you were wondering how that calender would stand up, I decided to (finally) try out my Tim Holtz stand die.  

So don't forget to check out our guest designer and all of the DT!  Be back again tomorrow with one more project share!

Simple Pleasures

 Welcome back!  I have another project to share today before our design team and guest designer join us tomorrow.  Hope you entered to win these two images by leaving comments on the introductory posts!  If not, you still have time, so go check it out in yesterday and Wednesday's posts.

Today I have a long awaited project to share.  Not long awaited by me... I had a request awhile ago for some checkbook covers and I'm finally remembering to do them!  Yikes!  My friend actually asked me for 3, so I need to finish 2 more, but at least I got one done!

 The washi paper used is from Hanko Designs and the stamp is a set I borrowed from a friend.  Sorry, no packaging, so not sure what brand it is.  All I know is that that company is out of business, so I can't get that set for myself! And here's a better look at Ling Ling...

 And Po... I swear he's still up to something.

And a better look at that sentiment.  I'm still kicking myself for not picking this up when it was available.

That's it for today!  Be sure to check us out again tomorrow to find out who our guest designer is!

Intro Post Day #2- Hello Po!

 Since you've already met the two new images, I thought I'd get straight to the project!

Now I can't really reveal yet who this card went to... it's a surprise!  It was actually sent to our guest designer for this release, but I can't reveal who that is yet.  All I can tell you is that it's a no-brainer.

So these pandas totally make me feel like using bright colors.  Is it because I color them up in black and white?  Maybe. I just feel like they need to have some bright backgrounds everytime I use them.  This time, I decided to cut up more of my doodlebug designs paper.  Rather than just using one pattern, I opted to use 4 different patterns for fun and interest.  This is a really fun way of using up your scraps and not having the same old layout. 

That ca-ute banner die is by La La Land crafts. This is the first time using this die and I am kicking myself for not playing with it sooner.  It's so cute! I love hearts and this one just screams Jenny.

Oh.. and did you notice my cute "hello" sentiment die?  Love it!  I believe that is a Mama Elephant die.  Can never have enough Hello dies and stamps.  And here's the panda of the hour.. Po!!  Still up to something sneaky I bet.

And here's Ling Ling... I think he couldn't care less about anything but having fun!

Oki doki.. the real reason you bared through this post... the opportunity to win Po!  Here's what you gotta do:

1) Leave a comment on THIS POST by 08/31/14 11:59pm HST; and
2)  Tell me what you like to do with your leftover scraps.  I learned from my good friend Debi to trim them down to a manageable 6x6 size and then file them.  Try to go to that stack first before cutting up a new paper.

Oh Happy Day!- Meet Ling Ling and Po

 Guess what!?  It's time to meet the new baby pandas!  I was pretty excited when my sister sent these new images to me.  She made the pandas even more squishy and cute!  The first thing I had to do was give them a name.... Hmmmm..... I was drawing a blank.

So what did I do?  I went to Wikipedia and searched for Panda names.  Well, what do ya know?  They actually had a listing!  You can check them out here...   I basically sent through the list and chose the ones I liked the best.  I know, not very original yah?

So now you know how these critters got their names... But you may be asking yourself why am I featuring both pandas on the same introductory post? Well, for some reason.. I can't seem to make a project with just one of these guys!  I always seem to end up adding the second panda to the mix.

Over the weekend, I taught a class at my LSS.  The point of the class was to use the Sizzix Framelits die set designed by Stephanie Barnard.  I love that set!  Anyway one of the cards I made in class featured these two cuties...  Meet Ling Ling and Po!

The papers used on the background is by Doodlebug Designs and the sentiment stamp is by Mama Elephant.  I also used enamel dots and some prima flowers from my stash.  Easy peasy.  Below is a closer look at Ling Ling.  I love how Ling Ling is on his back!

And here's a better look at Po.  For some reason I get the feeling that Po is gonna get into trouble!

So now that you've met these two baby pandas... do you want a chance to win one of them?  Let's see... we'll go with Ling Ling first...  If you want a chance to win Ling Ling, here's all you gotta do:
1) Leave a comment on THIS POST by August 31, 2014 11:59pm HST; and
2)  Tell me what name would you pick if you had to name a panda?

Good luck and stay tuned tomorrow for more fun!

Release #25 Coming Soon!

Can you believe the summer is almost over?  Before you know it, it will be Labor Day and we'll be welcoming in the Fall season.. I felt it's time for another release and we have some fun critters coming your way!  Meet Ling Ling and Po!

Check back tomorrow as we introduce our new images!  See you soon!