Hi. My name is Amber, and I'm a blog neglecter.

It's only a month late, but better late than never, right??  

I am so sorry...  I've had a family emergency to deal with and a mini-vacation to take.  

BUT...my neglectfulness (is that even a word?? :)) is in YOUR benefit! 

I've decided to award 2 (YES 2!!) $5 credits to CropChocolate.com for making ya'll wait.  

So, without further ado...

Winner #1 is:

And winner #2 is:

CONGRATS WINNERS! :)  

Sharon, I have your info but Lucy I need yours!  Will you please email me at amber@cropchocolate.com?

CCDT New Year, New Team Blog Hop!

Welcome to the CCDT (CropChocolate.com Design Team) New Year, New Team blog hop!  

No, I'm not on the team.  

I'm the lucky one that gets to lead these ladies and give them assignments for their monthly projects and basically learn from everything that they're creating.  They truly are amazing and I love working with them!  

One thing I asked of them to do was to give 5 fun facts about themselves.  

I can't ask that they do it and then NOT do it, so here are my fun facts.

1.  I cracked my youngest brothers head open.  Twice.  On the same rock.

2.  I can't roll my "r's".

3. I have the attention span of a turnip.

4.  I'm allergic to almonds and I found that out the hard way about 6 years ago.

5.  I'm absolutely OBSESSED with smutty TV shows like The Bachelor/ette, Vampire Diaries, and Dance Moms.

:)

In honor of celebrating our new team, my crafty mojo finally decided to come back from a LONG vacation, drinking mojito's on the beach.  

(How kind of it!)

Cover

I was able to do a mini album for my dad of Neysa and her "Papa". :)  She ADORES her Papa, so I thought it'd be fitting since I had this "boyish" paper to use.

Cover/last page and how the album is essentially put together.

I mixed chipboard, acrylic, and canvas pages from a book I bought from Prima.  Using the My Mind's Eye "Dilly Dally" line, I cut out a bunch of stuff with my Silhouette Cameo to use in it.  

Here are a few pages from it:

I LOVE these 4x6ish little shaped dividers!  I am pretty sure I bought almost all of them in the Silhouette Online store!  I foresee using LOTS of these in the future.

I can't wait to give it to him! :)

Now, if you're going to continue hopping, you'll want to go to Jenni's blog and continue hopping!  

Please show some love to these amazing ladies.  They definitely deserve it!

I'm going to give a random commenter $5 in crop credit - SO, leave a comment and if you're not already, follow me!  I'll draw the winner on Monday, 1/14!

xoxo Amber

Operation Write Home Blog Hop

Greetings and Salutations!  

(I've always wanted to say that.. :))

Thanks for joining me and the CropChocolate.com Design Team as we start World Cardmaking Day early, and support a fabulous organization, Operation Write Home.  They send thousands of cards to the troops each week, helping them keep in touch with home. 

We decided that it would be fun to do a challenge hop, and see how many cards we could get made for these deserving people.  If you choose not to send your cards off to OWH, don't fret!  There are hundreds of thousands of public servants (teachers, police officers, firefighters, etc.) that would love to receive a card. So, get your paper and glue ready and let's get supporting these amazing people!  

Before I announce my challenge, I'd like for you to familiarize yourself with some of the OWH guidelines.  Their first and foremost priority is the safety of the Troops.  You can find those guidelines here.  Please, please, PLEASE read that before proceeding.  You can also see here what will happen to your cards if you don't follow those guidelines. :)  We want to help, not hinder, this process so please do your part!  

Now that my "follow the rules" speech is over, let's get crafty!

I'm going to make my challenge pretty simple.  

Here is a list of Desired Themes:

Birthday

Love

Thank You

Missing You

These are cards that will be needed during ALL times of the year.  

Here are the ingredients:

an embossed solid paper

at least 2 different printed papers

twine or ribbon or a trim of some sort

(if you have questions whether something you want to use (ie button, etc.) is appropriate, you can check out their gallery here.  I found this VERY helpful!)

Here's the sketch:

Using the sketch and ingredients, I want you to make as many "Desired Theme" cards as you possibly can!  You can rotate the sketch, use as is, or create your own interpretation of it!

Once you've done your card, you will want to link up AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST!  

(for whaever reason, the cards are not showing up on the blog, but they ARE there in the back screen. :))

The person who has the most entries linked by October 8th @ 8am MST time, will win $10 in crop credit.

After your cards are all done and you're ready to mail them off, you'll want to go here to get the closest address to send your cards off to.

Canadian Girls!  Here's the address to send yours to:

Corinne Braun

6-300-108th St

Saskatoon, SK S7N 1P8

Since I'm the first stop on this hop, you're going to want to swing by By Belle/Michele's blog and see what challenge she has in store for you!

Now what are you waiting for?  GET BUSY!!

PS - if you're not a follower, please become one!  I may send a few Unity Stamps to a random follower as well. :)

xoxo Amber :)

{BANNERS} away and my 100th post!

Today begins the first day of the {new} CropChocolate.com blog hop!  Each of my girls are going to have a Banner project to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing!  I am actually the beginning of the hop so you've come to the right place!  

I honestly REALLY struggled with this project.  I thought about doing a banner shaped mini album.  Then I was going to do this, and that - I couldn't settle on something that I liked.  I started looking around at room ideas for my baby's 2nd birthday "big girl" room, and I decided I wanted to make something to go on her door with her new colors.  This is what I came up with.

1.  I started off with a raw-wood "N", some chipboard banners from Maya Road, white paint, So Happy Together by Echo Park, mod podge, Black Soot distress ink, random letter stickers, Black embossing powder, random stamp and embossing ink, and Charcoal Twine from The Twinery.

2.  I started off by painting 5 banner pieces white.  While those dried, I traced the "N" out of the paper, glued down, inked the edges, and mod podged the paper down onto the piece of wood.

3.  After the white paint had dried, I took my Crop-a-Dile Big Bite and punched 2 holes in each banner piece, randomly inked them, and then threaded the black twine through them.  I draped the banner across the "N" until I was happy with where it fell, then tied it off on both ends.  I took the stickers and stuck them down on each banner and then put a light coat of MP over them for extra sticking power.

4.  I wanted more of a black "pop" so I heat embossed 2 flowers onto the "N".

At this point, I wanted to do more to it.  I wanted to add flowers or glitter or something - because that's what I do.  I went against the "norm" and left it alone.  Gotta say - it's one of my favorite projects and I can't wait to get it hung on her door!!  

Now, to the fun stuff. :)

I have this goodie bag of trims for a random drawing for those that eave a comment and follow my blog. :)

Then, I will be drawing for a {SURPRISE} piece of blog candy as a gift to you for my 100th post. :)

I'll draw them both on 7/31. :)

Now, if you're here to play along with the blog hop here's where you need to go next:

Christina

I've seen her projects for this hop (and everything else she does, too!!) and they're SO dang cute!

Once you get to the end, there'll be instructions where to go for the "main" prize.  

The blog hop ends Monday, 7/30 @ 8am MST so make sure you get to steppin' by then!

Happy Hopping!!

Amber

hey there!

ni-nights, Relly.

4th of July - 2011

**BLOG HOP!** Organize Your Hoarder Room!

Just kidding about the title....for my readers anyways.  My crafty space was indeed a hoarder room, or organized chaos as I call it.  :)  

Here's my space before:

I really do struggle with keeping things neat and tidy.  If it's put away in it's place, I can't ever find it.  If it's left out, I typically know exactly where it's at.  Ask my husband - he can vouch for that! :)  

Here are my after pictures.  

So, I basically have 3 walls in my crafty space.  This desk shares a wall with my sewing stuff.  That is not included in this post. :)  I share my "diecut desk" with my husbands cords for the internet and stereo system, etc.  There's not a ton I can do about it, but when my laptop is under the Cameo, the back mess stays quite hidden. :)

On my other 2 walls are my shelves, another desk and my paper tower.  I have a big window by my desk that I love, and use the sill as storage as well.  

I don't care for my desk.  At all.  But I did find a bright side to it - this little pull out shelfy thing where I keep my big tools like a paper trimmer, score board, etc.  This part of the desk makes me not hate it so much.  

I had one of those big embellishment centers from Making Memories on the wall, but I bought a new shelf and needed to move my paper tower to the other side of the desk so I had to take it down.  Along with taking it down came all of my inks, stickles, etc. with no home to call their own.  So, I went to WalMart and got some stacking storage bins and honestly - I LOVE THEM.  I don't mind having to dig through for what I'm looking for.  My staple items are going to be on the top as I use them (walnut stain...) all of the time.  It works perfectly for me!  

Now, for the fun stuff.

This Blog Hop is being hosted by the Design Team for CropChocolate.  If you've never been to CropChocolate's site, you're totally missing out.  

If you found me in the middle of perusing the internet, WELCOME!!  I am the beginning of the hop, so please - play along! :)

After you're done here, you'll need to hop on over to Paula I's blog.  She'll then send you off to your next stop from there.  

Now for the REALLY fun stuff. :)

Leave a comment, and follow my blog (if you don't already!) for your chance to win this:

On Monday, June 11th I'll draw a random winner and send these goodies off to them! :)  You can't win if you don't play! :)  Now, I'm off to make another disaster.

Enjoy!

2nd "Un-official" Crop Chocolate Blog Hop

Hello ladies!  And maybe some gentlemen, too. 

If you've stumbled onto my blog randomly and want to get in on the action, please start here.  

Today, I've got a great little LO that I did of my daughter and her Grampa enjoying their "o's" for breakfast. 

I used my new Elegant Edges Cricut cart for the cool little loopy border.  I used a sketch from PageMaps.com as well for the inspiration.

Now, for the fun part.  You need to hop on over to Heather's Blog and see what good stuff she's got scrapped up for you. 

Everyone will have until 8am MDT on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 to comment. We have two confirmed giveaways. One is a 12×12 Hello Spring Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park and another is a 12×12 Fourth Of July Mini Theme Kit by Echo Park (generously donated by Echo Park Paper Co. {http://echoparkpaper.com/}). To be eligible to win on the 2nd Unofficial Crop Chocolate Blog Hop, you need to comment on each blog along the hop and be able to receive packages (no post office boxes). It is open worldwide. The winners will be selected via random.org and announced at http://centralnyscrapper.wordpress.com/ on Wednesday, March 28.

Happy Hopping!!

CropChocolate Valentines Day Blog Hop! :)

welcome blog hoppers!!


if you've randomly come across my blog and want to join the hop, please start at Beth's Blog and make your way through!

thanks for joining us in our Valentines Day Blog Hop!  you've just seen some AWESOME cutes on Karen's Blog - isn't she awesome??  

for my project, I had this darling little pink Christmas tree that I didn't get put up in time for Christmas.  being it was pink, I knew I had to Valentines Day it up!

There are 3 parts to this tree, and they are EASY PEASY!!  For all of the decorations (except the ornaments) I used My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad of Love Me.  

For the Tree Topper, I used my Slice and Applique Basics card to cut 2, 4" hearts.  I inked the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink (my go to brown ink!) and then using my sewing machine, I sewed them together leaving about 1/2 in on each side at the bottom in order to place on the tree.  I took Crystal Stickles and put them on the outside as well to add some bling. :)

Next I created the paper garland.  I cut random pieces of the papers in 1(ish) inch increments.  Wrapped into a circle, and stapled.  Just like you did in elementary school.

Lastly, I did the ornaments.  All they are is 3 red, white and pink buttons strung together on some random twine. :)

You could really do this for all different seasons and holidays!  A fun way to add some fun spirit into your home. :)

Now, for the good stuff!

First, leave a comment and follow my blog!!
After you do that, you will now need to go to TheCrop on CropChocolate.com and leave a comment for your chance to win one of 2 monthly kits {your choice!}, sponsored by WeScrap!  They are doing an Online Crop all weekend so check out this link to join in on all of the fun!
We will be drawing for the kit winners on February 1, 2012.

double trouble and a blog hop!!

Hi fellow crafty friends!

Today is your lucky day.  We're doing a Blog Hop AND you get 2 projects to see!  How fun is that?!?

Most of you know I work for the greatest company ever - seriously.  CropChocolate.com.  Click on the link if you haven't seen it before and see what it's all about!

Part of my job includes being the Design Team coordinator.  All 9 of the blogs that you've visited today are filled to the brim with awesome projects and things for you to create.  These ladies are so talented and I'm extremely lucky to be able to work with them.  

Our new "DT Year" started on August 1, and we're celebrating this weekend with a Blog Hop!  You know what that means - Blog Candy. :)   At the end of this post, you'll have instructions as to what to do to win that blog candy.   Until you get there, here's 2 projects - 1 from LMissCrafter - Jamie and 1 from myself.

From Jamie, a sweet little card:

Jamie is also on the Design Team, but is having a fabulous vacation with her family so we're double teaming my blog today!

 Welcome Little Sprouts Card 

I created this fun little card for a good friend of mine that just had identical twin boys!  They are over the moon happy and extremely busy as you can imagine.  I couldn't help but use some of the cute new Fine and Dandy papers that I just got from Crop Chocolate.  Having two little girls myself, I don't make masculine themed cards that often.  It is always a challenge for me to come up with good boy color combos, but these papers made it easy.  I am thrilled with the results and hope my friends are too.

Materials:

Kraft cardstock, Fine and Dandy by My Mind's Eye papers, Unity stamp set - Little Sprout, seam binding ribbon and bling from my stash. 

Instructions:

1. Start with a 5" x 5" kraft cardstock card base.

2. Adhere a 4.75" x 4.75" piece of patterned paper to the front of the card.

3. Stamp images onto patterned paper and cut them out.

4. Use foam adhesive to attach images to card front and embellish as desired.

From Amber - another sweet little card:

 This actually started out as a silly RIP card for ScrappyCanuck - Karen's Cricut which died a short time ago. :)  I was trying to be silly when making it, but I ended up making it pretty serious and I love how it turned out!

I used:

So Sophie Paper:  Birds of a Feather and Family Ties.

Random White Core Cardstock

So Sophie: Savvy Anything for You Clear Overlay

Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink

Lost&Found - Market Street "Adore" Trims

Lush - Blue Brads

Making Memories Slice Digital Cutter

Random "Thinking of You" rub-on sentiment, silver staples, and sanding block.

Directions:

1. Cut your main paper to whatever size of card you'd like to use.  I used 4.25x5.5.  Fold in half.

2.  Take the TH Distress Ink and distress the front side of the card.

3.  Tear or cut a strip of different, coordinating paper and with the clear overlay, staple them down on the left side.  

4.  Take your white-core cardstock, and with your Slice machine, emboss the flower.  On the raised side of the cardstock, take your sanding block and lightly rub over the shape until it's distressed enough for you.  Tear around the shape, stick a brad in the middle, and glue down onto card.

5.  Take a trim and tie around the card.

Ta-da!!  You're done. :)

HOPPITY HOP!

Now, for the Blog Hop.  You probably got here from the fabulous Miss Alissa's blog.  If you randomly stopped in at my blog, please go to CropChocolate.com's Blog for details on where to start!  Follow it around until you get here.  Once you're here, you'll want to leave a comment and follow my blog!  After doing so, go back to CropChocolate.com's Blog, and leave a comment stating that you visited each of our blogs and would love to win the Blog Candy!!  What's the prize going to consist of you ask?  Well, first and foremost a Slice machine!!  There'll be some other random goodies like design cards, and random other scrappy goodness to be won so you won't want to miss out.

Thanks for stopping by! :)

xoxo Amber