Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone!  I hope you all have a very special spooky day.  I am sharing one more MoonFlower Digistamp today for the contest we had at the YSBP Challenge blog.  I hope it brings you a smile and not a fright!  The two little characters with her are peel and stick black that I fussy cut once I placed the tape on the color of cardstock that I wanted.

I also used some lovely white Turkish lace;  I sell lace in packs of 20pc, 30pc, and 40pc typically. Pcs typically range arounf 6"; Check out my lace shop:  LacePlaceByHolley -

as many of you know I was the GIU gal last week.  Winners will be announced this week as soon as I hear back from Unity after submitting my winners (that step is already done). I will wait until that day to share the winners of the prizes I am giving away as well. Keep your eyes peeled!! It should be very soon!

Have a cup!

Well, it's GIU day 7, so I thought I should end the week with one last COFFEE theme card.  I love these lady stamps, this stamp is called Warm inside.  You can find it HERE.  It comes with two sentiments.  I did this card up in all greens.  I don't tend to like green, but I have really challenged myself to start working with it.  Lime green and I seem to agree don't you think?  what color do you challenge yourself to use more often?

I hope you have enjoyed my week as the GIU artist for Unity Stamp Company.  Please leave a comment to be part of the prize drawing.  After today I will submit the winners to Unity stamps and as soon as I hear back from them, I will make the announcement both on my blog and on the Unity Stamps GIU Facebook page.

If you are interested in Turkish Lace,  Check out my store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Some one asked yesterday about attaching the lace to your cards, I recommend Aleene's clear gel tacky glue. Works perfect and generally never leaves a stain. It just takes the smallest thin line of glue. make sure to use the clear gel tacky glue and not the regular tacky glue.

You're Paw-some

Happy Saturday everyone!  It's GIU day 6 and I would like to share this adorable doggie theme card that's just paw-some!  I just loved this cute stamp set.  SO adorable. It's been so much fun sharing with you this week.  If you like this cute stamp set, you can find it HERE in the Unity Stamp store.  I will also say there's some wonderful cat theme stamps that are similar.  I hope you have been enjoying the week so far, there's just one more day to go!

Be sure and leave a comment today, I will be counting up the entries and drawing names for the winners.  I will submit them to Unity Stamps and once approved they will be announced.  I can't wait to surprise some lucky winners!  WOO HOO

I added some great Turkish lace to the project, check out more laces at my store, LacePlacebyHolley, here: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

I pray

My GIU day 5 card is this stunning stamp from the set, "My Heart Trusts."  You can find that stamp HERE.  This stamp set is so important to me because I had brain surgery twice.  Many of my regulars know this, but for those of you visiting the first time, let me tell you that I was quite sick and had two brain surgeries back in 2010.  I am fully recovered, blessed, and thankful to be alive!  AMEN.  Every year in the month of February, on my blog I have the biggest celebration!  I give away TONS of prizes to EVERYONE who comes.  So, mark your calendars now to come to Holley's Blog in February and celebrate my immense blessings and get some wonderful stamps, dies, and other crafting goodies, invite your friends to join you in winning some blog candy including some great Unity stamps.  Check me out in January as I will start showing Blog Candy photos of the goodies to be handed out.

I am using some wonderful trim that I bought in Turkiye last summer.  In addition to lace, I also have trims and ribbons assortments.   LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

My week is almost over!  Just two more days to go, be sure and leave a comment as there will be FOUR Unity stamp prizes this week.

Cheers, Holley

Think Happy Thoughts

It's GIU day 4 today and I wanted to share at least one Angie Girl this week.  Aren't these stamps fabulous?  This image is called Bryna Girl, you can find her HERE.  She comes with a lovely sentiment.  I stamped her on Neenah Solar White Classic Crest paper and colored her with Copic Markers.   I am using a cute chipboard balloon, buttons, and a vellum sticker to embellish this card.

Please leave a comment today to be in the running for one of the four prizes that is going out.  The prizes will be announced after this week is over.  Two wonderful gift certificates from Unity Stamps and two Unity Stamp sets from me directly to the winners.

I'd also like to wish a very special birthday to my Dearest God Mother!!

Cheers, Holley

Like Lace?  Add it to your creations Check out my lace store here: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Coffee time

For GIU Day 3, I thought I would share my favorite topic, COFFEE!!  well, I don't know, I do also love the animal stamps, and the Unity girls, Hmmm, well, it's hard to say really, but COFFEE is definitely a favorite topic of mine.  Unity Stamps makes it hard to choose a favorite topic, am I right?!?

That being said, I just can't resist it when Unity Stamps comes out with a new COFFEE theme product.  They are just too much fun and I think they are so versatile; you can use them for all sorts of cards.

This cute stamp is called Coffee Side by Side and you can find it HERE.  There's a bunch of other wonderful coffee theme stamps, I may have to sneak another coffee theme project in this week...  Hmmm do y'all want to see more coffee theme?

Be sure and leave a comment today to be in the running for the prizes this week.  Do you like the lace on this project? Check out my Turkish Lace store on Etsy, I sell precut pieces of lace just for cards and junk journals: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Keep Moving Forward

Day 2 of my GIU Week I am sharing this lovely stamp from the set A Girl and her friend.  You can find this wonderful set HERE at the Unity Stamps Store.  I am using some gorgeous Bazzill cardstock and layered the image colored in Copic Markers on top.  I used the sentiment "Keep Moving Forward" from the set.

Another thing I added on this card is some gorgeous Turkish lace across the bottom.  For those of you who are new to my blog, I travel every summer to Turkiye and buy all types of stunning laces in many colors and styles.  You will see many this week on my cards.  I sell Turkish lace on Etsy, the same lace that i use and buy every summer during my travels, check out my store LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy  I sell in sets of 20 and 40, pieces that are approx 6" long so you get an amazing wide variety to use on cards or Junk Journals.

Be sure and leave a comment to be in the prize running!  Two winners from Unity Stamps and two winners from me.  I hope you loved today's card.

Cheers, Holley

I'd hang out with you everyday! (BLOG CANDY!! WOO HOO)

Welcome everyone!  Today starts my Growing in Unity (GIU) Week of Unity Stamp Cards.  I am super excited to show you their huge array of stunning stamps.  There will be prizes this week, two commentors will be chosen to get gift certificates directly from Unity Stamps!  ALSO two more winners will be chosen by me to get a Unity stamp set (already purchased, so it will be mailed directly to you from me). The winners will be announced shortly after the week is over, so watch on Mon/Tues following the week as I have to turn in my winner's names to Unity stamps before announcing them!

This fun stamp is called Sloth Endearments and he's just TOO cute.  I love this stamp and the sentiments that come with him.  I made this CAS card where I think he really POPs right off the card.  You can find him on the Unity Stamp website HERE.

Come back each day this week and leave a comment for a chance to win one of four prizes!

Cheers, Holley

Did you see my Introduction from Unity Stamps?  Here it is:

Hi!  My name is Holley.  I am a HUGE crafting fan who's came across card making 23 years ago when I went into a little scrapbook store in the city of Austin, TX.  Man, was I hooked after that!  Who knew one tiny brass stencil set would bloom into a such a fun hobby?  I started my blog for stamping 13 years ago and I post a new creation everyday.  Wow is it fun to look back and see how I have changed and what I have learned. 

 I currently have the pleasure of working at my local Elementary School as a Special Needs Paraprofessional for the Deaf-and-Hard of Hearing Department.  I'm a former Electrical Engineer who worked for huge companies like Dell, NASA, US Military and I had to stop all that to have two brain surgeries.  Post successful surgery, I told my hubby I just wanted to craft and do art.  Every February I have a HUGE surgery anniversary celebration on my blog where I give away prizes to everyone for an entire month! 

I am a HUGE Unity stamp fan, I so adore all their amazing artists.  Their quality is top notch and they have the best variety.  I can't wait for you to see my creations this week.  In addition to the two prizes from Unity Stamps, I am also giving away two stamp sets so check out the blog each day and leave a comment

Holley's Blog (holleybarnhartsblog.blogspot.com)

 Cheers, Holley

 p.s. that photo is at a scrapbook convention, I am standing with my mother and my dearest God Mother whom I hadn't seen in over 3 years.  I am grinning ear to ear!

Guest Designer

Here's more wonderful artworks from the kids in Istanbul.  One thing that blew my mind a little (and I know other people perhaps in America will get this).  I am having tea with my friend in the break lounge and we hear the bell ring.  We goto her class room and all the kids are sitting there, not a peep.  WOW.  WOW.  If I could think of a time I walked into one of our classrooms in the USA and it was that quiet I would be hmmmm, Well, I can't think of one.

Aylar wrote her poster to show me the months in Turkish.

Check out my lace store for all your lace/trim needs:  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Happy Early Halloween

 Since next week is my GIU week, and I will just be sharing Unity stamps (WOO HOO!!!)  let me sneak in another wonderful Halloween card this weekend.  I hope you are all going to have a great Halloween this year. I can't wait to see all the kiddos come by and get some lovely treats.  I totally love the little owl on this card.  This card kit comes from Pink&Main.

Check out my lace store on etsy, I sell lace in pcs approx 6" long in lots of 20, 30 or 40, as well as a bunch of fun shaped laces like flowers, butterflies and other gorgeous embellishments  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Happy Birthday Ms R!!

Happy Birthday Ms R!  Shouting out a Happy Birthday to a friend who works at AISD with me.  Wishing you the best birthday this year. I hope you have a great day and may all of your dreams and wishes come true!  I would have posted an elephant card, but I couldn't find any elephant stamps recently.  I do have a little treat for you. If I remember I will leave it with Ms Knape so you will get it Monday when you sub for me.

Hey everyone!  Be sure and check out my lace store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Witching you well!

 Had to share a Halloween theme card using a great kit that i got from Pink&Main.  I just love their cute stamps as well as their adorable card kits.  This is the first one I have used and I must say I am impressed with the quality and highly recommend them.

Check out my lace store on Esty, I sell lace in pcs approx 6" long in lots of 20, 30 or 40, as well as a bunch of fun shaped laces like flowers, butterflies and other gorgeous embellishments  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Friends

Here's a super sweet Unity Stamps card with a little girl and her puppy.  I added some wonderful Turkish lace to go with it.  It says, "Life is better with Friends."  aren't pets the best friends ever?  I just love little puppies super cute.

 Check out my store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Warm my soul

 Happy Tuesday!  I am ready for some coffee this week, so I got this cute stamp out, it's using a cute little set from Unity Stamps.  It says, "You warm my soul."  How sweet is that?  I love their little smiling faces.  I added some gorgeous Turkish lace and matching cardstock.

Drop by my lace store here: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

You make my...

Check out this card today, I'm starting off the new week with a love theme card for the DH.  It says, "You make my heart soar!"  How cute is that?  I just love these sweet kits from Simple Stories.  They are so much fun and make a lovely set of matching cards in the theme of the kit. 

Drop by my lace store here: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Guest Designer

 Here's more lovely art from the kids in Dilek's class in Turkiye.  Another great thing I learned about school there is that the kids get 10 minutes per hour break.  The bell goes off and the kids immediately know they have a ten minute recess.  Why don't we do this in the USA?

Check out my lace store for all your lace/trim needs:  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Thanks DH

 Here's a thank you card for the DH for paying for our hotel in Dallas last week.  I super appreciate that.  He's the bestest ever!  Thanks so much.  Love you to pieces.  

Here's four ways to tell him Thank you from a fun little kit that I got.  I hope he knows how very appreciated he is.

Check out my lace store here: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Happy Friday

Happy Friday everyone.  Today I am sharing this gorgeous BEE from Turkiye along with some stunning lace and great flower embellishments.  Don't you like this pretty combo on yellow cardstock?  Today is our teacher training day.  I wonder what we will all be doing.

I know it's hard to tell but those cute little flowers are handmade seed bead flowers.  How stunning is that?

Check out my lace store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

What's MOO with you?

 Here's a funny cow theme card to give you a little chuckle.  I thought it was too cute. It comes from Simple Stories card making kits.  It says, "Hay There! What's MOO with you?"

Check out my lace store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

I wonder...

Check out this Unity Stamps card today.  I don't know if I had mentioned it before, but I will be the Unity GIU from Oct 24-30, so be sure to check out my blog that week as there will be wonderful prizes of UNITY stamps.

Here's a sassy card that I picked for today, "Sometimes I wonder how you put up with me. Then I remember, Oh, I put up with you. So we're even."

Check out the lace in my store this week: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

You're Beautiful

 Here's a sweet card for Tuesday from SEI.  You're Beautiful.  Happy Smiles to all my teacher friends and all my crafting friends out there today.  I hope you have a Blessed Tuesday.

Hugs, Holley

Check out my lace store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Happy Monday

 Well, the break is over and it's time to go back to work.  I think this week is a four day week (the fifth day is a teacher workday, so I will be at work but no kids).  I am thankful to have such a short week last week and a short week this week.  whew.  Let's start monday off with some Coffee.  Ahh.

The cute sentiment is from Honey Bee and the image is from Catherine Pooler.  I added some great Turkish lace as well.  Happy Monday everyone!

Drop by my store and check out all the lace: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Guest Designer

Here's two more lovely pieces of artwork from the children in my friend, Dilek's class in Istanbul.  The school is called Fatih Gencosman Ilkokulu.  In Turkiye, it is my understanding that the teacher starts with the children in her class in kindergarten and progresses grade by grade with the same kids.  I.e. the teach will teach k, 1st, 2nd, 3rd....as the kids proceed from k, 1st, 2nd and so on.

One the first card you can see the child called me Holi (which is how the kids decided my name is to be spelled).  I didn't correct them.  It was too cute.  It says, Holi Sister School Welcome

Hope you got a chance to take advantage of the lace sale!  I am getting all the orders from wed to sat out today: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LacePlaceByHolley?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Time to go Home

The convention ended yesterday so I am traveling home today.  Here's a fun card for the DH, "I really MYTH you."  He knows that is the truth.  When he's not around, like when one of us is out of town. I miss him so.  I know, I know, how can I be spending two months away every summer?  Well, in summertime I am so excited about being in Turkey, it's a whole lot easier.  But as you all can see by me posting cards for my DH all the time, I do miss him then too.

SALE at my store still through the end of Sunday: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Thanks to Ms G

I wanna give a huge shout out to Ms G for subbing for me today!  Woo Hoo.  It's very hard for TAs to find subs in the district, often our positions go unfilled when we are absent which means that our kids do not get services that they deserve.  We have a huge teacher and TA shortage here.  Plus there a disparity in pay for subs between what it paid for a teacher sub vs a TA sub, as much as 60 per day depending on the school and number of days worked!  So I don't blame subs for taking Teacher jobs, I blame the district.  So I SUPER appreciate Ms G for filling in for me and helping my kids today.  You're the Dog-gone Best!

Check out my lace store, sale this week until Sunday:  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Coloring class

One class I am taking this weekend while at the convention is a coloring class using copic makers.  It says it's a beginner class, but I looked at the amazing samples and thought, no way that is a beginner!  I hope I can make coloring that looks as good as that when I get done with the class.  I don't think my coloring is bad, i think most of the time, it's good, but nothing like this persons.  Note, the card below is NOT from the class, I will tell you when I get back from the class and have a sample

Check out my lace for sale in my Etsy store, sale runs through Sunday: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Off to a convention....

 So excited about this upcoming weekend as I have traveled to Dallas/Fort Worth area to go to a convention.  I am taking a number of classes on cardmaking and copic coloring.  I am super excited.  I can't wait to share all my creations with you, It should be a blast.  Woo hoo.

If you are ordering from the store between Oct 5-8 the order will not be mailed until the 10th.  But you will get the sale price so run over to the store and check it out!

LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Cheers, Holley

Life is Good

Sharing this gorgeous Unity card today.  She comes from a Kit of the Month.  I added a simple sticker sentiment, "Life is Good."  I also added some beautiful Turkish lace that I got this summer.  This lace comes in the BROWN color family collection in my store. There's a sale at my store now, go check it out!

Check out my lace store here: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Short work week

 Going to be a short work week as I am going to Dallas Wed night for a scrapbook convention.  I know it will be a small one, but I am still excited to go.  I wish I had gone to the one that was closer to me in San Marcos, but this one looks fun and has some great classes so I am going. That being said, let's start off the week with a little coffee.

I'm using some stamps from Taylored Expressions here and some Gorgeous Lace from Turkiye.  Have a little coffee today and Happy Monday everyone

Sale this week!!  Check out the lace store:  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Guest Designers

 I'm continuing to share the wonderful drawings given to me by the kids last June.  Here's two more lovely creations.  It's hard to see on the first one, he wrote alaf yu (I love you) TIGIR (his name)

this one is just stunning, it's a drawing of a stamp that I used on a greeting card by Sherri Baldy.  What a stunning recreation of a stamp done by a second grader!  It says, "My name is Elif"  What a great artist she is.  Sherri Baldy might have some competition in a few decades.

Check out my lace store on Etsy: LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy

Gina Frankenstein Bride

 Happy October Everyone!  I can't believe it's a new month.  You know what that means, yep, it's time for a brand-new contest over at the Your Scrapbook Place Challenge blog.  Woo Hoo.  I am so ready for this.  This month the sponsor is MoonFlower digi stamps and there is a great set of halloween themed stamps (as well as a whole variety of other goodies that she has).  Here's a great stamp I used for my first card.  Gina Frankenstein Bride

Drop by Your Scrapbook Place and enter your newest creation into our contest.  Our theme is anything goes and is not limited to just cards. We'd love to see all your wonderful crafty creations.

Check out my lace store on Etsy:  LacePlaceByHolley - Etsy