Candy’s Craft Corner is Giving Away some Candy!

Miss Candy is giving away some awesome stuff!

She’s reached 400 followers and she wants to celebrate.

Here are the goods:

Go! Enter! Win!

(And definitely take a look at her creations – there is a reason she has so many followers!)

Later queenies!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #25–Sketch

Happy Monday morning! It is time again for another Digital Makeover Challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

The Challenge:

I will say that I changed the sketch quite a bit.  I flipped it and made the squares into circles.  I I just thought it fit my image better as circles.  But, hey, you can still see the integrity of the sketch and that is really what it’s all about, right?

Inspiration:

I have not been as happy as I usually am with my coloring lately so I did this one really carefully and I’m much more pleased with the outcome.

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Stamp: PMS Lea | Copics | DSP: Basic Grey Indie Bloom | Fiskars Shape Express (used with the circle template) | Zig pen

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Entered in:

Paper Sundaes: Circles

That Craft Place: Anything Goes

Crafty Ann's: Bold and Bright

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Thanks so much for popping by today!!! I’m so appreciative of any comments! Have fun with the challenge!

And remember: it’s so GOOD to be queen!

Stamping with Sami #9–Embossed Stamping

Hello people! Good morning and happy Sunday! It is time again for another Stamping with Sami Challenge! My card this week is techno-licious!

The Challenge:

Embossed Stamping

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

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Stamps: SP&Co. Candy Hearts and Hug a Bug | DSP: Echo Park Dots n Stripes (Candy Shop Collection) | Embossing Powder: Zing by American Crafts (Teal, Navy) | Cardstock: Recollections | Ribbon

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Entered in:

Scrapaholic by Abby: Birthday Card

Wags in Whiskers: Male Birthday

Gingersnap Creations: Only two colors (Blue/White)

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Thanks so much for stopping by!

Keep it royal people and happy scrapping!

Shout Outs!

Hello! Happy Wednesday. : )

It is time for this week’s shout outs.  As some of you know, I’ve decided to pick out a few comments (some with questions) and recognize them with a little link-back to their blogs!

Kellie Winnell: (Aussie Blogger and owner of TPS!) Thanks for the comment! I love your blog (and Tickled Pink Stamps!)

1CardCreator: Thanks so much! Hope to see you at Make it Monday again!! (She has a very pretty Spellbinder’s card over on her blog!)

Dana (CanadianScraps43): I was so pleased with the layering on that layout! Thanks for dropping by! (Scroll down on Dana’s blog and look at the birds on a wire card – it’s so cool!)

Brenda: Thanks for stopping by! You said you’re new to scrapbooking but I think your first pages are awesome! (She also makes really awesome cards!)

Mynnette: I’m glad I’m not the only one who is in the dark with the glimmer mist! Thanks for your comment! (She has some really nice digital work on her blog!)

Have a great day! And Thanks again to all my commenters and followers.

Keep it royal people!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #24–Word Art

Happy Monday morning! It is time again for another Digital Makeover Challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

The Challenge:

Here is my inspiration:

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Stamp: PMS Because You are My Friend | Spellbinders: Labels Ten | Embossing Folder: Sizzix | Punch: Martha Stewart | Ink: Distress Ink; Brilliance | Ribbon and Lace: Stash

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Entered In:

Less is More: Punches or Die Cuts

Craft Us Crazy: Use your Favorite embellishment/color (I love ribbon and I used some lush velvet ribbon here!)

DRS Designs:  Words Only

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Thanks for stopping by! I’m so thankful for the comments I’ve been receiving lately.  : )

Keep it Royal people!

Stamping with Sami #8–Distress Stamping

Hello people! Good morning and happy Sunday! It is time again for another Stamping with Sami Challenge! I’m excited to share a half-page with a stamped background today!

The Challenge:

Distress Stamping

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

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Stamps: SP&Co. Circletastic Background, Hug a Bug, Mix ‘n Match Sentiments Occasions: Stampin’ Up: Simply Circles | American Crafts: Thickers | DSP, Cardstock elements, brads and ribbon: Vintage Travel collection by The Girl’s Paperie | Ink: Distress Ink (Broken China, Frayed Burlap) | Glimmer Mist

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To make the Circletastic Background even more distressed I inked it with distress ink and then I sprayed some parts of the stamp with glimmer mist before stamping.  The yellow-ish or watery looking parts are where I sprayed the stamp with my mist.  It’s a fun way to get a different distressed look with your acrylic stamps!

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Entered in:

Annabelle Stamps Challenge: Say it with….Background Stamps

Inspire Me Fridays: Anything Goes

DYSU (Do You Stack Up?): Layers (I have LOTS!)

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Woohoo!! I am loving this half-page design.  I am really feeling inspired by the challenge of it and I’m getting some great results!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  And remember…

…It’s GOOD to be queen!!

PageMaps Webster’s Pages Sketch

I am so proud that I’ve been keeping up with my resolutions to get back to scrapbooking AND post my non-DT projects to my blog.  Now I’m posting TWO just today!

I’ve just recently found the Pagemaps website where Becky Fleck shares her wonderful sketches and holds her awesome challenges!

Here is the most recent sketch:

I love this sketch and I was automatically inspired to use a recently purchased Crate Paper collection pack Portrait Collection.

Here’s the thing - I really liked this sketch, but I only had big 12x12 papers in this collection pack and the thrifty girl in me could NOT cut into three or four big, beautiful papers to create those little banners.  I HAD to come up with another alternative.  So, I used one of my favorite tricks.  This particular ‘trick’ is pretty much the top reason that I love collection packs.

I gathered any and all potential supplies on my table:

As you can see, I didn’t end up using half of these supplies, but I’m a faster scrapper when I am surrounded by all that potential. : )

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I took the packaging from the front of the collection pack and cut the unwanted part from it:

BUT I will keep that part in case I want to use that pretty yellow rose!

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Then I cut the pretty part into strips:

I then used those strips to create the little banners and pieces that made up the majority of my layout.  I LOVE doing this because it stretches my collection pack AND it’s very eco-friendly (which is hard to say in PAPER crafting, lol!)

And here is my final product:

I LOVE how those strips look! They were perfect for this layout!!

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Stamp: Stampendous | DSP: Cratepaper Portrait Collection; Glitz Design (damask) | Cardstock Stickers: Cratepaper Portrait Collection; Basic Grey Out of Print, June Bug (alpha) | Dimensional Sticker: Anna Griffin | Punch: EK Success Ledger Edger | Glimmer Mist Forest Green | Adhesive: Ad-tech

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PageMaps: Sketch

Make it Monday: Always Anything Goes

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Thanks for stopping by!! Please let me know what you think of my collection pack banners! And, if you use any packaging – tell me what you use it for!!

And remember – it is so GOOD to be queen!!

My Mind’s Eye Sketch Challenge

I have been a bit obsessed with My Mind’s Eye products lately. Their products have just been speaking to me lately and…well I have to listen, now don’t I?

So, this month’s MME sketch was the perfect thing play into my obsession. (Not to mention that I just got a HUGE MME stack all full of the original Lost & Found papers and I was salivating just waiting to use it on something!)

Here is the sketch:

I really do like this sketch but when I chose pictures they were vertical instead of horizontal so I just adjusted it a bit and rotated the photos but not the layout so I could keep things pretty much the same.

I don’t really ever put banners on things but it seemed like just the thing that I needed for this. I’m also pretty happy with my rolled roses, which I just cut freehand, and they turned out exactly how I wanted them! : )

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MME Product: Lost & Found (papers) Love, Lovely, Happy Birthday | Stella & Rose (papers) Hazel; (title) Mabel>Joy (button) Mabel>Play

Tools: Marvy Punch Bubble Scallop | We R Memory Keepers Distressing Heart Attack | Tattered Angels (Glimmer Mist) Forest Green (to change the color of the title )

Other: Doily, Green Cardstock, Buttons Galore Buttons

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Entered in:

My Mind’s Eye February Sketch

Rubber Redneck Roundup:

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Thanks for stopping by today!

Keep it royal queenies!

Dabbling in Digital

From time to time I enjoy opening up my Photoshop Elements 8 and, using some of the free scrapbooking supplies I’ve acquired, I create digital layouts.

Here’s the thing: I will NEVER be an all-digi scrapper. I just don’t find the kind of enjoyment in digital that I do in paper and glue.

I’m usually inspired to do digital layouts when I’m thinking of scrapbooking specific photos, but have no inspiration or drive to get up out of my chair and march into my scrap room. Generally what happens is that I complete the digital layout and then I have the inspiration (and, in general, a sketch) all picked out and organized for those photos. It makes me crop, print, and scrap those photos faster and the process easier.

The thing is, I’m not sure why I’ve never shared any of these digi layouts here on my blog. They’re literally the EASIEST creation to show because I don’t have to worry about time and effort spent on photo quality or photo editing. They are only files and so are already perfect in photo quality.

So, I’ve recently completed a digital layout (which will probably soon become a traditional layout with different products and (maybe, if I feel like it) some journaling.

This is a digi LO of the baby of our family on his first day coming home:

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Program: Adobe PSE8 | Kits: “You are My Sunshine” by: Scrapartist Collaborations for Creating Keepsakes; “Just My Type” A collaboration for www.EveryDayMomIdeas.com | PNG elements: Scalloped borders and rectangles created by me and used as clipping masks

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I love those digi letter stamps (they are free and scanned from old books) but I can’t remember for the life of me where I got them! Also, I adjusted the color on them from the originals to fit the color of my papers and embellishments.

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Entered in:

(Here is the tricky part. I don’t know if it’s okay to enter this into challenges. I mean, the work that goes into one of these is about the same, time-wise, as a card with stamping and embellishment. Making Digital look decent requires layering, shadowing, color adjustment, sizing, and photo cropping – among other skills. Those things do take time and artistry, I just don’t have a physical product to show for it. I guess I will enter this into a few and see what happens!)

Cutie Pie Challenge: Anything BUT a Card

Allsorts: Free and Easy February

I’m just going to go with two and see how it goes. : )

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Hopefully you traditional scrapbookers out there will find a little time to learn how to use a program like this. It’s a colorful and fun way to learn photo-editing techniques while actually planning your page and cropping your pictures. (Using Digi stamps on layouts is fun too – for my digi stamp sistahs out there!) I’m not very experienced with digital, but I do pretty much know what I’m doing when it comes to PSE – even though I could DEFINITELY know more. Any feedback would be awesome!

Thanks for stopping by!

Keep it royal queenies (and maybe just TRY it digital!).

Shout Outs #2

Hello!  Just wanted to say hey to a few special commenters from this last week!

Aimee Kidd: Thanks! I thought that SP & Co. Bunny was pretty cute myself. : )

Eloise: I thought the crazy colored grass would be strange too, but after the stamp was on there – I couldn’t imagine it any other way!

Pat Garvin: Thanks for stopping by!! I had lots of fun making my green card and the brads were a last-minute addition!

Patchi: Thanks for commenting so faithfully on all or our SP & Co. projects.  You are an awesome fellow DT member!

So, those are my shout outs for last week! Please, if you stop by, go ahead and leave me a little comment and maybe you’ll be the next on my list of shout-outs! Free publicity for your blog, right? (I also LOVE new followers, so if you followed me I would obviously LOVE you!!)

Thanks peeps!

And remember – it is GOOD to be queen!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #23–Cropped Image

 

Happy Monday morning! It is time again for another Digital Makeover Challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

The Challenge:

Here is some inspiration:

I was watching Heidi Swapp (my recent Scrappy personality obsession!) on her My Craft Channel show and she did a Glimmer Mist episode.  I never knew that the coverage could be made to look so even by wiping the excess off with a paper towel! I know I’m probably the only one left on the planet that didn’t understand that – but I guess it is better late than never, right?

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Stamps: PMS Color It Set | Glimmer Mist | Markers: Galaxy (White and Metallic Lavender), Ditto by Studio G, Sharpie, Faber Castel | Glitter Border: The Paper Studio | Chalk

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Entered In:

CRE84FN Color Challenge: Chartreuse, Grey, Lavender

The Poodles Parlour: Anything Goes

Craft Us Crazy: Anything Goes

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Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Keep it royal people, and happy scrapping!

Stamping with Sami #7–Love Theme

Hello people! Good morning and happy Sunday! It is time again for another Stamping with Sami Challenge! This one is pretty simple – especially with V-day so close!

The Challenge:

Love Theme

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

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Stamps: Candy Hearts, Bold Sentiments I, Hearty Hearts Backgrounds | DSP: My Mind’s Eye Candy Shoppe Bubblegum; Echo Park Be Mine, GCD Antiquities | Flowers: Prima and handmade | Adornments: Cropadile III Die plate and squeeze plate | Ink: Brilliance Platinum Planet ; Memento: Tuxedo Black | Lace: Crafter’s Corner | Pompoms: Pebbles ink Ever After | Button: stash

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Entered in:

Crafty Emma: 3+ layers

Card Crafter's Circle: Valentines

Our Craft Lounge: Vintage Love

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Get out those SP & Co. stamps and show us some LOVE! Thanks for stopping by!

Keep it royal people!

SP&Co February Blog Hop! (Red)

Are you ready for some new stamps!!?? Well we sure are. Head on over to the link below to view all of SP & Co' s new offerings and see what the team has done with all the new goodies!

This month's color is Bright Red! After you're done hopping around today, make sure you play along with this month's Red challenge (click here for details) for a chance to win some awesome SP and Company prizes!



Join us for our Release Celebration that is happening today and tomorrow on the SP Forum HERE. You can talk to all of the designers, discuss projects and chit chat with other stampers!



Don't forget that the random prize patrol is watching so leave a comment on every blog to be eligible for the prizes!!


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New SP & Co stamps used: Spring Bunny Single
I also used Hearty Hearts Background , Ribbon, a heart die cut and LOTS for Fiskars' Red ink.
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Make sure you check out the SP Blog to see what Samantha did with the new stamps! We also have the Stamp Team and the Challenge Team teaming up today to show you lots of amazing projects with the newest stamp sets!



Here is the list of designers that will inspire you today:



Chrissie

Lori

Jen

Amber

Britt

Vicki

Kelli

Michelle

Stephanie

Patty

Bonnie

Susan

Tella

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #22–PMS Colors: Pink and Grey

Happy Monday morning! It is time again for another Digital Makeover Challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

The Challenge:

Here is some inspiration:

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Later queenies!

Facebook!

I would love it if all of my followers would jump over to my crafty Facebook page and friend me! I share photos there and post about new scrapbooking products that I love, contests, and giveaways.

If you do friend me, by all means please comment on my wall and share some projects with me! (maybe I'll share them in a blog post!)

So, please hop on over to Facebook and friend me! HERE.

I'd love to have you as a new crafty Facebook friend!

And remember, it's GOOD to be queen!

Stamping With Sami #5–Stamp Kissing Technique

Hello people! Good morning and happy Sunday! It is time again for another Stamping with Sami Challenge!

The Challenge:

The Stamp Kissing Technique

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

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Stamps: SP & Co. Little Floral Background, Mix ‘n Match Sentiments Occasions; Stampin Up Simply Circles | Embossing Folder: The Paper Studio | Glimmer Mist | Ink: Memento | Brads: The Paper Studio | Cardstock: DCWV | Dies: Quickutz

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Entered In:

Allsorts: Free and Easy

Speedy Fox: Use a Spray/Mist ( You can see that the ribbon is colored – it was white and then I Glimmer Misted it!)

Stamp, Scrap, and Doodle: Dies or Punches

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Thanks for stopping by! If you’re interested, please go take a look at my post about light boxes: here!

Keep it real queenies!

The Blog Guidebook and a shout-out.

I just wanted to make a post about this great blog that is a fabulous resource for blogging tips!

If you want to read some great tips and articles about blogging, head on over to The Blog Guidebook!

They have a recent article about blog etiquette.  Much of the article and the conversation is about replying to comments.  Well, that “etiquette” was news to me – mostly because blogger makes it practically impossible to send a cohesive reply comment so the person you are talking to knows that you’re “replying” and not commenting on their recent post.

See how complicated that is?  And I was just trying to explain the convoluted process!!

Well, the plain fact of the matter is that I don’t have time in my blog schedule OR my real schedule to keep up with replying to individuals all the time. 

I love, love, LOVE each and every comment I get and go back to read them multiple times.  For all of my followers (especially the ones who come back and comment just because you want to!) I am so grateful and excited that I have a group of people to share my art and some of my thoughts with.  You are wonderful, and perfect, and appreciated. 

In light of this discovery of blog etiquette and the fact that I’ve decided (in the new year) that I am going to try and make posts that are not DT posts – I’ve come up with a new mission.  I am going to try my best to make a post that will high light some of my favorite comments of the week.  I’ll put a link back to those people’s blogs and answers if there are any questions!

So, here goes:

Anne Temple: Thanks for so faithfully commenting on all our DT samples for PMS every week.  I appreciate it and love being a fellow DT member with you!

Smiley21: Thanks for the comment! I love those roses too!

The Navy Wife: Thanks so much for coming over to see my card! I enjoyed your comment so much and your blog has some beautiful things on it!

Michelle VP: Thanks!! You asked what I used for the masts on my boat card: the answer is I used nothing!  I just didn’t cover that part of the original printed stamp.  It’s just the white showing through, but it has a metallic look because it’s so closely masked and surrounded by greys.  It’s a trick! Thanks for the question!

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There we are! I am going to TRY to keep up with this a bit every week.  I am not perfect so I’m sure I’ll miss every once in a while.  But, please don’t hesitate to follow and comment because you could get a shout-out and some free blog publicity out of it!!

Keep it real and keep it royal!