Saturday, April 27, 2013

Spellbinder beauty

I absolutely love this card! For this card I used Prima's Annalee paper. I used spellbinders marvelous squares, Lacey Squares, and bitty blossoms. I put the third and the fourth Marvelous Square dies together to cut the beautiful blue paper.  I used the Lacy Square die to cut the pink paper.  I tucked the extra pieces from the Marvelous Square dies into the corners of the Lacy Square cutout.  I used the largest blossom in the Bitty Blossoms and the two leaves that aren't stuck together. I cut the blossom, embossed it and airbrushed it with RV09 Copic marker. For the leaves I colored the light green G82 on a white piece of Gina K card stock. I then cut the leaves, embossed, and airbrushed them with G85.

Jewelry

I thought I would do a post with some of the jewelry that I have made. As you can tell I really like to do all kinds of crafts. Hope you enjoy
For this necklace I used three strands of wire with beads at different places to creat this light and beautiful necklace. I could do a tutorial if you would like. Please leave me a comment if this is something you are interested in.


This necklace is created with seed beads and drop beads. 

This necklace uses some beautiful pink beads interspersed with crystals. I really love this great pendant!

This bracelet is made up of many seed beads. It looks really complicated. It was really quite easy it just took lot of time!

This necklace uses a variety of turquise, tigers eye, and silver.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Scrapbook pages from my cruise

Hey I just wanted to show you a few easy scrapbook pages that I made a while ago. I use Creative Memories albums, so i keep the embelishments on these pages flat.

Unity Friends with Flair

For this card I used the panda from the stamp of the month kit for April. To color it I used my Copic  markers Colors R29, R30, g 82, G 85, and I went around the edges of my stamp with C10. I cut the red paper with my Spellbinders Labels one die. I used the third die from the center. I used the second largest die from my Decorative Labels One die set on white card stock. I used the largest Labels One die to cut the gray card stock. I stuck a piece of the red crinkle paper down to the front of my card and sewed it with my sewing machine. I love how this little beauty turned out!
Thanks for looking! I love it when people leave me a comment or follow my blog!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

My idea in the November 2012 Greeting Farm newsletter!

www.thegreetingfarm.comWe grow smiles & happy days!
News & Stuff from Your Favorite Farm!
 FROM THE EDITOR...
Hello, friends!

There are some times, circumstances, etc. when a "thank you" just doesn't seem like enough.  You know what I'm talking about, right?

As we near Thanksgiving and go right into Christmas and beyond, I always find myself wanting to savor those times when we can spend time with friends, family, or even relish in a few moments of alone time to simply sit back, reflect, and be grateful.  As the month goes by, I realize how time goes way too fast and think "how did I get here...again?"   Those questions make me long for that extra minute, hour, day to just sit on the couch with coffee and cuddle with my kids, sleep in that extra hour, drop what work I may have had to meet a friend for lunch, or spend time I don't always find/have to do something nice for someone else. 

We spend an entire month-pretty much from the day after Thanksgiving to the day before Christmas Eve (unless you're a guy, then it's right THROUGH Christmas Eve, lol!  teasing ;) gearing up for Christmas.  Why don't we dedicate at LEAST a month to being "thankful"?

Before I let that bother me too much, I realized something.  I want to be thankful ALL the time.  Do I always do a great job at this? No.  However, there are so many reasons I want to be better at this.  My family.  My friends. My health.  My support system.  My job here at TGF and what it provides my family.  My growing photography business.  My parents.  My siblings.  SO many "not-so-little" reasons to be thankful EVERY DAY.

That being said, please pay special attention as you scroll through this month's newsletter for our special "PAYING IT FORWARD in Thanskgiving" challenge.  I'm so excited about this- warms my heart and hope you guys love it just as much.

In closing, I want to let you know I'm thankful for each one of you and so glad that I share an "attitude of gratitude" amongst such a positive and inspiring crafting community.   HAPPY THANKSGIVING, everyone!
 

Wishing you the BEST and the MOST....always....
xoxo,
Jess :)

...'tis the season with 

 
We are excited to say that our 'ad' below is definitely generating some customer features and what's to lose?  You get FREE stamps if you're featured, plus your name in "lights"!   
 
This month, Emily DeVlieger has a cute and easy Christmas ornament tutorial to share with you!
 
 
1. Stamp Greating Farm image on vellum (note it takes a while to dry I used black memento ink. You can hurry it along by drying it with your heat tool.)
2. Paint wooden embroidery hoop
3. Glue fancy trim to hoop for hanging on a Christmas tree.
4. Color stamped image I used copic markers
5. Center painted hoop around stamped image. Trace around outside edge. Cut on the line you just drew.
.
6. Glue the circle you just cut to the embroidery hoop.
7. Put some kind of ribbon or trim around the outside of the hoop to cover up the glue.
8. Hang on Christmas tree the lights from the tree will shine through the vellum making your image glow. 
 
TRY out this technique and let us know you did, and a FREE holiday digi will be on its way to you!
 
Thanks again Emily for this super cute technique!  'Tis the season for FUN with TGF!

My idea in the Feb 2013 Greeting Farm newsletter!


News & Stuff from Your Favorite Farm!
 FROM THE EDITOR...
Hey, friends!

HAPPY FEBRUARY!

TGF is celebrating a special mid- month release this February with our new Stamp/Die set combos and the excitement is roaring!  Since our debut w/ these at CHA, up until now as they are being released to the public, I'm receiving some wonderful feedback from bloggers, crafty friends, and customers alike as well as our cherished retailers.

I think that people are SUPER excited about these and excited about the new direction that TGF is taking.   However, rest assured, those who love to color our 'signature' images that we will also be bringing you TONS more of those as well!  For as many emails and comments as we've received sharing the excitement of our new line, I've also received a handful wondering if this was the end or a sharp decline in our lovable characters and the answer is OF COURSE not!  We will still be bringing you our core line- Anyas, Sprouts, Creepers, and the like :)  We just wanted to branch out a bit and since dies are so hot right now, we wanted to offer some of our own!  Hooray!  They're finally here!
 
This got me to thinking- not just in the crafting arena, but in life as we know/live it...is it possible to go in a new direction and yet still keep a firm foundation?  The answer is YES.  I know that change is scary at times,  but personally (and I'm not talking stamps here anymore- I'm just kind of reflecting on what sparked this thought in my brain ;), I think it's scarier NOT to change.
 
February is the last month before Spring begins in late March.  Spring, to me, has always been a great time to make all things NEW.  So, hey!  We're a little ahead of the game :)  In the coming months, you'll be seeing some SUPER fun new things happening on the Farm and we hope you'll stay tuned for all of them in March with our new Guest Premiere Farmers, a new release, and some very exciting news in April.
 
As for me, I'm also going to take this last month before Spring begins and take the opportunity to embrace that NEW direction...all while keeping a firm foundation of who I am and what I stand for.   How about you?

Wishing you the BEST and the MOST....always....
xoxo,
Jess
Make it a GOOD night with this sweet customer feature from EMILY DeVLIEGER!

When I was growing up, I remember having several night lights.  My Dad used to take me along with him on shopping trips to a store called "Venture" which was much like a Target store.  I seemed to come home with one every time we went to the store.  I remember having a Care Bears nightlight- think it was one of my favorites!

I received this cute idea via email from Emily DeVliegerand decided to include it as our Customer Feature for February!
 
Here's a quick little "how to":

1. Stamp greeting farm image on vellum I used black memento ink. It does take a little while to dry. You can hurry it along with a heat gun.


2. Apply versamark ink to frame (I got my farm at michaels for a dollar) put embossing powder on the versamark. Emboss now apply versamark to your frame again. Have a red rubber stamp ready to apply images in the embossing. Heat a small area till the powder is melted press red rubber stamp in that area. Repeat until you are the whole way around frame. If you do not like simply heat again and the embossing powder will become molten again. 
NOTE only use red rubber stamps as the clear ones will melt. I used Midnight Emerald Obsidian embossing powder from Lindy's Stamp Gang.
3. Color stamped image. I used Copic markers.

4. Measure and cut your image to fit in the frame and then glue it in.

5. Tie twine around bottom of frame for decoration.

6. Glue frame to nightlight ***NOTE: ONLY USE AN LED NIGHTLIGHT they do not get hot the other kinds of nightlights are not safe for this project. Use an LED nightlight with as flat of a front as you can find. I used a GE waterfall nightlight I found at my local grocery store. You may need to build up the glue till your frame can sit straight.
 
Such a sweet idea!   I have a little one begging her mama to try this out using the new Valentine's Anya :)  Just may have to! 

Thanks again to EMILY and don't forget, guys, YOU can be featured in the TGF Newsletter as well as earn FREE STAMPS for your projects!  Thanks so much

My idea in the April 2013 Greeting Farm newsletter!


News & Stuff from Your Favorite Farm!
 FROM THE EDITOR...
Hey everyone!

I hope this newsletter finds you all well as we are celebrating some warmer temps and a few fun changes around the farm!

As you probably have seen, we're celebrating 4 new full time design team members, in addition to welcoming back our 8 members who made up the Showcase Team for another 6 month term as we merge them all together to simply form the new "TGF Design Team".   Also, have you peeked through the Looking Glass?  Our 4 LIMITED EDITION Alice Beans have done great since they debuted April 1st and will be around through the end of the month as supplies last!
 
With the warm temperatures can come several distractions.  I know for myself, I looked at the calendar yesterday and went wait, it's the 14th?!  I'd better get to typing my newsletter!  Distractions can serve as a problem when we are faced with deadlines, responsibilities, and things we simply must get checked off our list.
 
However, I got to thinking about this and then realized what I had been doing to "distract" me from work these last few days.   I had been spending extra time cuddling with my little one.   Spending extra time I maybe hadn't planned on doing my teenager's makeup for her as we are at that age now (sigh...), and spent some extra time planning and shopping for a really good friend's 40th milestone birthday party.  I also spent some time with my brother, who is very close to me and he came out to visit my parents and I with a day's notice and is here until Tuesday.   I spent time on the phone with a friend who really needed an ear, and I took some precious family photos for another good friend.
 
Are distractions ALWAYS bad?  Surely they can't be... because I realized something in all of this.  Sometimes, distractions equal LIFE.  And I'm not talking about slipping away on Facebook or Pinterest when we should be working, haha!  It's life minus the deadlines, minus the stresses which we often place upon ourselves, and minus the auto-pilot mode in going about our daily grind.  While we can't skirt out on what must be done, I urge you to let a few "beautiful distractions" slow ya down.  It was good for the soul, let me tell you!

Wishing you the BEST and the MOST....always.... and a few beautiful distractions along the way...
xoxo,
Jess :)
 Double the fun with TWO Customer Features this month!  Our 2nd project is by EMILY DEVLIEGER:

We are loving seeing your submissions for the newsletter Customer Feature!   Thanks for keeping the ideas rolling in- it always fascinates me on how much y'all can do with our stamps!

First up, we have an adorable dress up toy made from muslin material by EMILY!

First, I Stamped The image of Anya from the sunshine kit onto muslin fabric that I picked up from Hobby Lobby. I bought a quarter of a yard and that was plenty. I used craft ink from Stampin' Up! in the color close to Cocoa. 
 
I colored Anya with my Copic markers. I colored her hair with E 57 and her little swimsuit with V17. When coloring stay a little bit from the edge as the markers will bleed a little bit further. I used spellbinders grand Caliber dies to cut her out. I used the third die from the smallest in the set. To cut the fabric you place the spellbinder on the fabric and then put a piece of paper behind the fabric and then run through your cutting machine. If you do not have a cutting machine a simple pair of scissors will work as well. Put the fabric wrong sides together. 
 
Sew around all but about an inch and a half. Turn fabric to right way. Stuff with stuffing (poli-fill). Sew rest of Anya's body pillow shut by hand. Sew a piece of Velcro (prickly side) to Anya's tummy. Stamp Anya's clothes on felt. Dry from far away with your heat gun. It will melt if you get to close. Cut out clothes . PLAY! 
 

So super cute!  I know my 7 year old would love one of these!  Thanks, EMILY!

Spellbinder marvelous squares card

I love the Spellbinder Marvelous square dies! They are so elegant. For this card I used all the dies except the largest and the smallest. I started by stamping my flower image ( Unity Stamp Co) on white card stock. I then cut the layers out of various colors of card stock. I embossed them after I cut them. I masked the flower image and airbrushed the center of my first layer. I embossed the front of the card with Spellbinders embossiblity circles. I then airbrushed that. Cut the tag out with the Spellbinders ribbon banner embossed and airbrushed it. I used Copic B93 for all my airbrushing on this card. This card was simple, and so beautiful!

Dragon card

For this card I really wanted to try a new Copic technic. I love how it came out for the little dragons skin. For this card I used Whimsy stamps Dreaming Dragon, the Spellbinders I used were circles large and circles small, fancy tags, Lacey circles and ironwork accents corners. I put two corners together to form the beautiful squares! I used some gauze fabric behind the dragon to add some softness. The vision stamp is from Unity Stamp company. I airbrushed the fancy tag with Copic  R59.  Sorry I did not keep track of the colors I used for the dragon. I will make sure to do that next time.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Friends with Flair

Here is a new card I made with the Kit of the month from May 2012.
I used a new spellbinder called Marvelous Squares. I love this die set!  I then airbrushed the middle. I colored the flower with my Copic markers.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Unity Friends with Flair

Here is another card using the great butterfly stamp from Unity! I really love their stamps!