Happy New Year's Eve....

Here's a fun image from Squigglefly artist James Horvath called Bath Time.  What a fun image. I am using this card to celebrate New Year's as what more would you be doing to bring in the New year?  Definitely getting ready for that big party!  The contest over on the Squigglefly Challenge Blog is continuing through Jan 4th and the topic is Holidays which includes any holiday: Christmas, new years, valentines and so forth.

Join in the fun and share a card with us.  You could win a freebie if you use a Squigglefly stamp, even one of the great freebies. Cheers, Holley

Project Materiels:  Cardstock (DCWV, Neenah, Bazzill); Border Punch (Martha Stewart);  Sentiment (Momenta); Image (Squigglefly); Buttons (Grandma's Button Bag); Ink (colorbox Chalk); Adhesives (pop dots, glue all, glue dots);

Time for a party....

As the new year comes to an end, it's time for the last celebration. Knock on wood as I am always sick on that day.  I suppose it would actually be fun to be well enough to actually go out and have fun.  Or, dress up like this lady and just stay home.  Hugs and Kisses sounds like a wonderful plan as well.

Hope Everyone has a great New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Cheers, Holley

Project Materials:  Cardstock (Bazzill, Neenah, Making Memories); Border (Bazzill); Die Cut (Spellbinders Nestabilities); Stamp (Simply Betty Stamps); Ink (Colorbox Chalk); Sentiment (Sticko); Bling (Michaels); Adhesives (pop dots, Glue all, glue dots);

I Believe in Miracles

Here's a beautiful image from Make It Crafty with gorgeous papers from Paper Temptress.  I added a simple sentiment "I believe in miracles simply because I exist."  I am sure many of you are aware of this because of my brain surgeries in 2010, I feel incredibly blessed to be here!  This Feb will be 5 years!  There's going to be a totally awesome celebration, so keep your eyes peeled!!  Blog candy announcements will start early in January with photos and news.

This fun card is using lovely paper from Paper Temptress. The card base is gorgeous paper bag that has been embossed and brushed with white ink.  To add some flair to the edge, I used a piece of mica called Kunzite.  I printed out my image on Neenah Solar White Classic Crest paper and colored the image with Copic markers.  I die cut it with Spellbinders Nestabilities and then layered it with Hambly Overlays. I totally recommend the Hambly Overlays Mini Packs, this sheet comes from Pack #1, you get a bunch of 6x6" overlays that you can use on all your card creations!

So check out all the awesome papers from Paper Temptress and believe in miracles, they really do come true.  I wish I could go back in time and tell that little third grade child (that's the earliest I can remember actually praying to God about my health, without even knowing that my problem was in my brain) that God did hear me and he would answer my prayers.  Took time and technology to advance to point where doctors could really help me.

Hugs everyone!

Guest Designers

Sharing a couple of creations that were sent to me recently.  The first card was sent to me for my birthday via a Yahoogroup that I am a member of.  They know I just love yellow, so I can tell they chose this card just for me. It didn't have anyone's name on it, so I am unsure who created it, but with the yellow and the ribbon/button, definitely just what I would like!

 

 

Then I got this adorable Christmas Postcard which I am showing both sides of here from artist Linda Weber.  Doesn't she make the cutest stuff?

 

This adorable stamp she is using here is sold over on the Squigglefly website, Reindeer Postage.

New Year's Resolutions?

So, thinking about a New Year's Resolution?  Aren't we all?  usually I am not a big fan of that. Usually I don't bother.  This year, hmmm, perhaps. I definitely need to get some inspiration, that's for sure.  This cute image from Simply Betty stamps could do that.  Looks like she started a little Ribbon dancing and ended up like this. For me, that might just be crafting and how I'd end up afterwards.

Hope you are having a wonderful restful period post Christmas and before the new years.  Think about those resolutions and so will I.....

Cheers, Holley

Meet Thorne

 Happy Friday everyone!  It's time for a wonderful image from the featured artist this month, Teresa Sherman. This gorgeous image today is Thorne. She is currently available both as a digi stamp as well as a rubber stamp.  I just LOVE her bold line drawings. I colored her up with copic markers and used orange flowers and a red dress.  I have some gorgeous papers that I added to match included a transparent sheet flocked in red on the base.

 

Here's a close up of this amazing stamp.  Be sure and check out all of Teresa Sherman's gorgeous images at the Sweet Pea site.

 

Join in our fun at the Sweet Pea Stamps Friends and Fans page where we share our creations together and have weekly fun!  Cheers, Holley

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas today!! Blessings to you and your family. Here's a wonderful image designed by one of my favorite artist's Sandra Caldwell.

Deck the Halls...

Here's an adorable Christmas stamp from Tiddly Inks!  What a sweet image.  I got a package of cards that are embossed like this at JoAnns, I think they are great for Christmas, but would also be good for other times, as I use a lot of red in my coloring and I love embossed background.

Are you ready for Christmas?  I know we are.  Wishing you many blessings for the holidays and hoping that you are having a good time.

Project Materials:  Cardstock (AC, Neenah); Images (Tiddly Inks); DieCuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities); Color (Copic Markers); Ink (Colorbox Chalk); Sentiment (Hobby Lobby);

Naughty or Nice?

So, Naughty or Nice?  Well, I suppose that depends upon who you ask....if you ask my hubby I think he might say Naughty is nice!  Since I know who santa is, I guess that is the way to go!  Maybe I need to find a big candy cane, or just forget the candy cane and find an outfit like this girl has on.  What do you think?

This great image comes from The Stamping Chef.  Do you love her? I do.  Check out this artist's great images. It's best to buy from these artist's now as the changes in the taxes are going to seriously affect the business for digital stamp companies outside the USA. It's a big mess, so go to the stores that you love now, and get the stamps you want before 2015.  This card is for the Stamping Chef Challenge (TSC Challenge Blog).

I am using some gorgeous papers from Paper Temptress on the card here.  The image was printed out on Neenah Solar White Classic Crest.  The base of the card is Thick Red Pepper Columns. You can see on the base and the sides where I swiped the card with ink the lovely texture it has. The paper behind the image is a Hambly Studio Screenprint. It is a part of a sheet called Out on a Limb.  This is a 12x12" sheet and I used the adorable Owl on a project and the Birds on another project and now I have this shimmery black paper with silver specs to use here.  Wonderful projects from the same paper!

Merry and Bright

Here's an adorable Sherri Baldy image today that I am entering in the SSS Challenge Blog.  The theme is Christmas. This little girl is totally cute, this stamp is called White Christmas! I think she would work for all kinds of winter theme cards, so she's just perfect for all the upcoming months. I colored her using E30, E31, E33, E35, E37.

Hope you will join in the fun at the SSS Challenge as well, there's wonderful digi stamp prizes from Sherri Baldy so play with us.

Project Materials:  Cardstock(Bazzill Swiss, Bazzill, DCWV);  Image (Sherri Baldy); Die Cuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities, Memory Box); Border Punch (Martha Stewart); Ribbon (KI Memories); Sentiment (); Brads (); Adhesives (Ribbon glue, Glue all, Pop dots); Color (Copic markers); Ink (Colorbox Chalk);

Meowy Christmas

Sharing this adorable image from The East Wind.  This fun image was the adorable freebie from the artist this month. I was a bit slow in completing my card for the early challenge this month, but I still wanted to share my card using this adorable image, so I am going to enter this cutie in their current Christmas challenge on the East Wind Challenge Blog.

Wishing everyone a beautiful Sunday and I hope your next week will be blessed!

Cheers, Holley

Merry Creepmas

So here's a scary card for a fun contest over at Ike's Art.  The contest is called Merry Creepmas.  I am using the Holly Fairy but I dressed her in red and black and used skull paper and skull brads. I added the sentiment, Beware: Crazy.  I'd worry that she will put a spell on you.

The contest is over on the Ike's World Challenge Blog, so drop by and join in the fun.  Sometimes it's fun to do something a little out of the ordinary at Christmas time and let's face it, you know I love skulls, so any excuse to use a few, I am going to do it!!

Cheers, Holley

Hooty So In Love

 Here's a beautiful image from Sweet Pea artist Concetta Kilmer called Hooty So in Love. What an adorable pair of owls. I am using copic markers on them and some gorgeous fringe lace to decorate the borders of the card.  I added a simple sentiment Owl always love you.  I think another perfect sentiment that you could use with this image is "You'll owl-ways have the key to my heart."

 

Here's a close up of the image, which is also available as a rubber stamp.

 

 

Drop by our Facebook page to keep track of the specials and then check out our Sweet Pea Friends and Fans page where you can participate in our contests and share your creations!

 

SPECIAL NOTE:  On the FACEBOOK PAGE, there's a contest, just leave a comment under the 2100 announcement and you could win 5 stamps!! and there is a 50% off coupon that goes from Dec18-20  code: 2100Likes

 

Cheers, Holley

At the Carwash...

Here's an awesome image from the Stamping Chef.  Now isn't this the woman lots of people would love to see at the carwash?  I guess here in Texas we have been in a drought situation so long, carwashes don't happen, not even in your own yard.  I guess we will just have to settle for a card with a lady washing the car. That's about as close as you are going to get.

Hope all is well this week. Are you ready for Christmas? I can't believe it is so close now.  Just one more weekend before the holiday. I suppose I should be making my list and checking it twice.  Though if I crossed off all the naughty people,....that list would get awful short.  Better stick to getting sweet gifts for all the kids.

The Stamping Chef is having an Anything Goes challenge over on their blog this week, so I am going to share this card with them.

Lizzy Love

Here's an awesome image from Lizzy Love. This girl is just great. I love these images.  I did a fall theme card for her. I know most all of you are in winter time, but here in south Texas, just about a week ago, the tree in my front and back yard started dropping leaves, SO many leaves.  It's been a pretty mild 70 degrees many days and just beautiful.  Totally inspired me to do this card.

Hope you are all doing well, be you in a mild time like I am or in the winter like much of the north right now.  Hugs for the day

Project materials:  Cardstock (Bazzill Swiss, Bazzill, Neenah); Die Cuts (Nestabilities); Ink (Colorbox Chalk); Images (Lizzy Love Oddball Art Stamps); Flowers (Prima); Brads (Making Memories, Basic Grey); Stickers (Ms Grossmans); Sentiments (Cosmo Cricket); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue all);

Merry & Bright

Here is just the cutest image ever!! Yep, it's from SSS artist Sherri Baldy, it's she darling? She's Img454. Too cute for Christmas!  I added a fun sentiment on the base of the card "All I want for Christmas is You."  I am using some lace from Turkiye and some great embellishments of Christmas lights to go with her.  Now all I need it to get a reindeer image too...Sherri also has some adorable deer images!

Hope you will check out the SSS Challenge contest, they are celebrating the holidays over there, so join in the fun and share your card.  There's wonderful prizes from Sherri Baldy so drop by and play!

Squigglefly Challenge

Happy Monday everyone!  It's time for this week's Squigglefly Challenge.  This week the challenge will be extended through the holidays, so you have a bit longer to play.  You are welcome to enter more than once.  Our topic for the challenge is Holiday theme cards, it can be Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, New Years, even Valentines if you have started making those cards...pick a holiday and share a card over on the Squigglefly Challenge Blog.  I am sharing this adorable Christmas card using a wonderful image from my favorite Sandra Caldwell called Tangled Up Snowman.

I hope you will take some time and join in the fun!! There's some wonderful freebies you can use to play with us over on the Squigglefly website, try us out.  Perhaps turn one of those adorable Shy Bear images into a New Year's wish or that beautiful Journal Frame into a fun sentiment.  Just some ideas for you!

It's the most....

It's the most wonderful time of the year.....does this make a Christmas song start in your head?  I think they have been playing now since about June in Hobby Lobby, but perhaps just the last two months in most other locations.  But, no I am not talking about Christmas today, today is My Birthday!  not just my birthday, also several friends who have the exact same day!

So, for just one day in Dec, NO Christmas anything, just Holley.....ha ha.

Have a great day everyone and Happy Birthday to Katy (day late), Charlie, Oase and cousin Jade and all you other Dec Birthday babes!

Cheers, Holley

Happy Christmas

Here's a cute Crafter's Companion stamp that I made a sweet little Christmas card from.  What an adorable kitty.  I am now starting to see lots of poinsettas at the local stores.  Are these flowers that people keep year round?  I mean, what happens to them after the season?  Unfortunately the only ones that I see with any regularity are usually the ones in the church sanctuary and they usually meet an early demise due to the temperature control in there.  I am not sure why. I don't know if it's over or under watering or what, but every year, they don't seem to last very long.

At any rate, hope you are having a great December!  Stay warm and get ready for the holidays.

Hugs, Holley

Best Gift of All

Here's the kind of Christmas card to give that special man in your life. I made this one for my hubby using an awesome stamp from Sweet Pea artist Joanne Schempp, her name is Kristy.  Hmmmm, Kristy Kringle perhaps?  I colored her with copic markers and to make the image stand out, I did the background of the image all in warm grey tones.  Must say my favorite feature on this girl is TOTALLY the over the knee socks!  Love them!

 

This image is also available in digi format.

Hope this fun image inspires you to make a card for your loved one this holiday!

 

Cheers, Holley

Squigglefly, Paper Temptress, and a recent publication

Here's a fun card that was made using a great image from Squigglefly, gorgeous papers from Paper Temptress and was published in the most recent issue of Complete Cardmaking.  Not only was my card included, but more than half of the design team from Squigglefly including 4 of the Holley Hobbyists!  How fun is that?  My card is using an image called Thank You Tree from Squigglefly artist Michelle Bertuzzi.  Here's the completed card.

 

I am using gorgeous papers from Paper Temptress.  We were given a color pattern to follow, one which matches the cover of the magazine shown below.  I am using a lovely silver background is called Silk Silver Lustre.  I am using two wonderful shades of mica  amethyst and citrine.  My image is printed on Neenah Solar White Classic Crest cardstock.

 

Here's the magazine we were included in!  HUGE congrats to my DT member Elizabeth Hart for her card appearing on the cover!!

 Though it would be fun to show you this page as it shows all our photos on the left.

 Here's my project

Whimsical Times

Here's a brand new image at the Squigglefly store that I am using for the current challenge on their blog.  This week's contest is to use embossing or die cutting. I have a background embossing using a folder from Crafter's Companion called Holly and I used some spellbinders die cuts to trim out the image called Love is Having Open Arms from artist Cheryl Alger.

Drop by the Squigglefly Challenge Blog and join in the fun!  See what Rhonda's Rascals made and then share your card using some embossing/die cutting!  Use a fun Squigglefly image and you could win a prize!!

Cheers, Holley

Project Materials:  Carstock (Joanns, Crafter's Companion, ); Image (Squigglefly); Ink (Colorbox Chalk); Die Cuts (Spellbinders Nestabilities); Embossing (Crafter's Companion); Sentiment (Colorbok); Buttons (Jesse Jane, JoAnns); Adhesives (Pop dots, Glue dots, Glue all); Color (Copic markers);

Ho Ho Ho!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas Everyone! Here's a wonderful new image from artist Sherri Baldy of Scrapbook Stamp Society.  I made this card for the  SSS Challenge blog this week, their contest is anything goes holiday theme.

I hope you all will drop by and share your Christmas cards with us, esp the ones using those wonderful Bestie stamps!  You could win some wonderful images from Sherri Baldy as your prize!

Cheers, Holley

Sweet Pea Stamps Blog Hop!

 

Hello everyone!  Welcome to the Sweet Pea Stamps blog hop. Each of our wonderful designers have come up with creative ways to use a non-Christmas themed image to create a Christmas themed project! We hope to inspire you to work out of the box for each and every holiday with images you might not consider when crafting.

I chose Karen Middleton's stamp Wings of Hope.  First let me show you a card that I made using this beautiful stamp.  Here's a monotone pink card with this lovely maiden all in pink. Isn't she stunning?

 

 

Now here's a card where I took the same image and turned her into a Christmas card.  I chose to color her in white with some red wings and give her a glowing yellow aura.  I used gorgeous embossed white cardstock with lots of silver die cuts and metallic and embroidered Christmas ornaments.

Please visit each of our talented team members'... blogs and leave a little love - a comment on every hop post will enter you into a drawing for a $20 gift code to the Sweet Pea Stamps store! As an added bit of fun share the hop on Facebook tagging Sweet Pea Stamps for a chance for a $10 gift code to the Sweet Pea Stamps store! Winners will be chosen around the first of next week. Watch the Sweet Pea Stamp Blog and the Sweet Pea Facebook page for the announcement.

ALSO--There's a great Coupon at the Sweet Pea store during the Bloghop!! Get 30% off.  The code is BloghopChristmas

Sweet Pea Stamps blog http://sweetpearubberstamps.blogspot.com/
Ria http://dragonmagicscrapkaarten.blogspot.nl/
Suzi http://www.suzannebakermckenzie.blogspot.com

Holley http://holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com     ***YOU ARE HERE

Aletha http://ajsdesigns.blogspot.com/
Tera http://stampqueen.blogspot.com
Milo http://milolilja.net
Denise  http://thruthelookingglass-glassgraffitix2.blogspot.com/
Sande http://sandensupinat.blogspot.fi
Jane http://craftyanimal.blogspot.com
Nataliya http://lovecraftsforever.blogspot.com

Beautiful in Blue

Sharing an awesome card using an image from Lizzy Love!  I am in LOVE with this line of images. They are totally awesome. I got the cutest skulls to match the skull bow and shirt she has.  I am using some fun lace that I got while in Istanbul and some huge Prima flowers.

I hope you guys get a smile from this card today.  Big hugs!!

Holley

You are my Happy

Here's a fun die cut card that I made recently from one of the newest sets available.  They have some great assortments that die cut out lovely looking cards all by themselves.  I used some beautiful papers and think I can totally change up this card based on the background papers and the images I add to it.

This set comes from Sizzix and contains 4 thin metal dies.  Just perfect for a quick and cute card for that partner, grandkid, special friend,....

Cheers, Holley

Tori the Dragon-Up

Here's the cutest baby dragon ever!  This adorable image comes from Sweet Pea artist Conie Fong.  I just adore him.  I matched him up with some Bazzill Swiss paper and Bo Bunny polka dot paper layered with shimmery green die cuts and petite blue roses.  This cute image is Tori the Dragon Up.

Here's a close up of this adorable image, which is also available as a digi-stamp

Drop by the Sweet Pea store--they have updated it recently and they show beautiful large images of all the stamps now.  Then go to our facebook page and share your wonderful creations with us!

HEY--there's an awesome coupon at the store until the  Dec 6th!  code: cybersaleweek

it's good for 40% off your entire cart!! WOW!

Cheers, Holley

Cowgirl Up

Here's a great image from Stamping Chef. I totally love this artist's wonderful images!  I also added a fun sentiment from Cosmo Cricket, "Dear Adventure, I've been looking for you"  Doesn't this girl look like that!?!  I recently got a bunch of new images from Stamping Chef, so keep your eyes out for a bunch of fun cards using new images from this artist.

I am entering this card in the Stamping Chef challenge this week. I hope you all have a stamping great day!

Cheers, Holley

Baked with Love....

Here's an adorable image from Tiddly Inks of Wrynn making some cookies.  Yesterday I took some cookies to the ladies luncheon at the church. They were pumpkin snickerdoodles with cheesecake filling.  I thought they turned out pretty good, but not as good as last year's whoopee pies (also pumpkin flavored).

So, what pumpkin flavored goodies are you favorite?  which are you going to make this year?  I am always looking for pumpkin ideas....

This card is for the Tiddly Inks Challenge. Inside is the sentiment, Baked with Love to Thank You for all you do!

Chick Magnet

Here's something you don't see that often, a fun boy theme card.  This cutie comes from artist Sheri Baldy.  The contest over on the SSS Challenge blog is to use some glitter, so I came up with this fun image and added his awesome glittery rock guitar.

I can tell this guy is going to be a chick magnet for sure!  Drop by the SSS Challenge and join in the contest this week. Share a card with us and you could win some gorgeous stamps from Sherri Baldy.

Project Materials:  Cardstock (DCWV, Neenah, Bazzill); Image (Sherri Baldy); Sentiments (Adorn It, 3 Bugs in Rug); Flag (Basic Grey); Bling (Michaels); Guitar(Unknown); Ink (Colorbox Chalk); Adhesives (pop dots, Glue all, glue dots);

Squigglefly Challenge

Happy Cyber Monday everyone!  It's time for this week's Squigglefly Challenge!   What's more perfect on Cyber Monday than getting some digi stamps?  The challenge this week called Skip to my lou.....the challenge is to create a card but SKIP the colors Red and Green.  That might be a challenge this time of year.  Your card can be holiday themed (without the red or green), but doesn't have to be.  As you can see here, I created a Happy New Year theme card using a new image called Short Resolutions.  I am also using a fun frame from artist Charlene Mitchell called Half Moon Border Set.  It comes with the frame shown, but three additional frames.

Drop by the Squigglefly Challenge blog to see what the Holley Hobbyists have created this week and then join in on the fun!  We'd love to see what you made, share anything, but to win, use something from Squigglefly, even a freebie, and don't forget, no red or green.

Project materials:  Cardstock(Bazzill, Neenah, Making Memories); Images (Squigglefly); Lace (Recollections, JoAnns); Adhesives (pop dots, Ribbon glue, glue all); Ink (Colorbox Chalk);