Joy Clair + Coffee Loving Papercrafters Blog Hop

I'm soooooo fleepin excited to share with you all that the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Design Team is teaming up with the Joy Clair DT to celebrate the release of their brand new stamp set "Coffee Love".

You should have arrived here from Robyn Jordan's blog on the hop list. You're definitely going to want to hop along because you could win a $25 Joy Clair gift card to buy all the lovely stamps you want! 

I just adore the sketchy coffee cups in this set and I know I'm going to be using it for all sorts of occasions because it has sentiments for thank you cards, valentine's day cards, and hello cards. 

My fave cup of the whole set is this little guy with the scribbly heart in the center. I raised him up  using some black Ranger embossing powder and then colored in the heart. 

I used some coffee-themed designer paper from American Crafts and stamped a coordinating sentiment from the Joy Clair Coffee Love stamp set. 

I took my inspiration for the layout from the sketch challenge over at Paper Craft Crew Challenges. 

Well that's all from me! Now get to hopping! 

Your next stop is Dana Warren! 

Autism Awareness Blog Hop

An amazing bloggy friend (here's looking at you, Tenia) asked me to participate in a blog hop to raise in honor of Autism Awareness Day - recognized internationally on April 2.

Of course I said a resounding yes. I've been blessed to have individuals with autism in my life. One of my first ever jobs was working with an autistic man, helping him succeed in his job and it was one of the most rewarding things. People with autism might find themselves facing challenges with non-verbal communication and some social interactions.

You might have heard about the spectrum within autism and that's because it's really what it is - no two people with autism will present with the same symptoms. Today is a day to celebrate individuals with autism, and I'm proud to be a part of this hop.

The color for autism awareness is blue, so I started with a watercolored blue background made with Dina Wakely Scribble Sticks.

I added to the blue with some mandalas, stamped with Distress Inks.

Next, I used a butterfly  mask from STAMPlorations and painted over it with gesso.

I outlined the butterflies, created with the negative space of my mask, using a Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen, then used Scribble Sticks and water to create a hazy blue cloud around my butterflies.

I embossed a sentiment, super appropriate for this blog hop from STAMPlorations and added a little embossed butterfly.

 So there's my happy blue card. I hope you'll all participate in this awesome hop and check out the rest of the talented designers. Check them out! 

Erica A-B

Sandy Allnock

Amanda Bodine

Kimberly Crawford 

Joscelyne Cutchens (Instagram)
Dana Joy

Wanda Guess

Jill Dewey Hawkins

Jennifer Ingle (Instagram)

Emily Midgett

Kay Miller

Carly Tee Minner

Miriam Prantner

Elena Roussakis

Heather Ruwe

Amy Tsuruta

Marcie Sharp

Alice Wertz

Vera Yates

Tenia Nelson

Catherine Cosimano

Rachel Parys

Pocono Pam

Terri Burson

Becca Dawn Cruger

Cindy Blancett

Bonus! There are some super awesome prizes up for grabs thanks to some uber generous sponsors. Happy hopping! 

Growing in Unity Hop + Prizes

Boy (or in this case girl) - do I ever have an exciting couple of minutes planned for you. I'm so jealous because you guys (or girls in this case) get to hop through some AMAZING talented cardmakers AND you get the chance to win some awesome prizes from Unity Stamp Company.

If you're here from the hop, you're on the caboose of the talent train. 

Here's the official order:

Terri Burson from Waving My Wand

Sarah Vait from Sarah's Stamping and Stuff

Deborah Adams from A Creative Life 

Becca Cruger from Damsel of Distressed <-- YOU ARE HERE

Here in North Dakota, we saw the first snow of the season this week! Naturally that put me in a Christmasy mood (aka the pre-Christmas panic of realizing I haven't made any Christmas cards this season and I now have exactly ONE MONTH to get crack-a-lackin'). 

I bought the Unity Itty Bitty stamp set All is Calm All is Bright stamp set last Christmas season and never opened the package. So now I'm killing two guilt birds with one stone! I get to use a never-before-used-schtuff (in the words of Darnell Knauss) AND start my Christmas card spree. 

I stamped my image and then sponged over it with some Broken China Distress Oxides. Then I spritzed it with a little bit of water. 

To add a little texture and shimmer to my background, I schmeeeared some Heidi Swapp metallic white embossing paste through a stencil. 

Instead of letting it air dry, which would have produces flat circles, I used my heat tool to dry it. You can see that this causes the paste to bubble and crack, producing a yummy texture (and helping impatient crafters like me get on with their business). 

I put it all together, and got this little lovely! I even think I can get away with mailing it with no extra postage. Woot! 

Thanks for popping by! If you're new to my blog, I'd love for you to give me a follow. I love teaching new mixed media techniques and sharing my processes with you all - so you won't be bored! 

Now get to hopping and win some prizes!

STAMPlorations New Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Hello Ladies and Gentlemans! Today is a very special day because it's a new release party!!! I always love breaking open a new package of stamps. Something about hearing the crinkle of the bag and trying desperately to unstick the polymer clings from the packaging just does it for me. 

STAMPlorations is releasing 4 new sets today and they are all focused on the special ladies in your life - yo mama. 

I want to show off the card designs I made using these fantastic new stamps:

Using The Bee's Knees Parfumerie. The vintage perfume bottles were a perfect pairing with these old-timey 1920's ladies.

Using Big Grins by Becca Cruger - Sweet & Sassy Mom. If you're looking for a mother's day/lady set that pairs humor and sweetness, this is the stamp set for you! 

Using Dee's Artsy Impressions - Best Mom Ever. I love this big ol' flower arrangement and used watercolors and gold shimmer to really make it pop. 

Using Shery Russ Designs - One Cool Chick. This artsy girl was just screaming for a graphic, edgy design and I happily obliged. 

Here's what you need to know:
Number one, these stamps are in the STAMPlorations store right now and my bloggy readers can get 20% off their ENTIRE order by using the discount code STAMPGIRLBECCA at checkout.

Number two - if you hop along, we're drawing 2 prizes. One commenter will win a choice of a stamp set and one commenter will win a $15 gift certificate. Winners will be drawn from comments left on the STAMPlorations blog and participating designers blogs. 

What are you waiting for! Head over to the New Release Party and hop along!

Giving Thanks Blog Hop

Hold on to your turkeys, ladies and gentlemen, because this is one BIG hop and linky party with some BIG prizes.

STAMPlorations is hosting its annual Giving Thanks blog hop and featuring 38 designers - 15 of whom have been sponsored by STAMPlorations in the past year.

Prior to showing off my card, I'm going to get a little misty eyed and talk about Shery Russ, the owner of STAMPlorations. When we talk about things (or in this case people) to be thankful for, Shery tops the list. She was the one who gave me my first ever design team assignment from an official company. She's given me the opportunity to design stamps (a dream I never even knew I had until she asked) and she's sponsored causes that are so important to me (The Hop to Stop Domestic Violence).

I'm also SOOOO thankful for my STAMPteamies, who are constantly inspiring me with their creativity, uplifting me with their comments, and being all-around badass people. (pardon my French).

Ok - I know you've got some hopping to do, so that's my reverie.

Now here's my card.

I made this sweet shaker using the brand new Be Thankful Bundle (stamps and coordinating die cuts). 

I watercolored my apple basket and turned the card into an adorable little shaker with some fall leaves and shimmery sequins.

I'm going to link this card to the Dragonfly Dreams Autumnal Colors challenge and Fashionable Stamping Autumn or Winter challenge.



I love the brand new bundle sets being released for this hop. Each bundle includes a stencil, die cut, and harvesty stamp set.

And just because Shery is thankful for YOU, her customers, she's giving you all a 35% off discount in the STAMPstore.

Go wild and get to shopping!!

But before that - get to hopping and/or link up to the linky party below- because for all the hoppers and linkers there are 

>>>9 BIG PRIZES<<< 

up for grabs.

Coming October 15 - The Hop to Stop 2016

Purple is the color of National Domestic Violence Awareness month. 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence over the course of their lifetimes. 

Let that sink in - 33% of all the women you meet.

On October 15-30, I'll be hosting the 3rd annual Hop to Stop Domestic Violence. The Hop is designed to raise awareness for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

How can you be involved?

1. Link up a card that *features* the color purple during the hop October 15-30. Show your support! 

2.  Hop along! The first year I did this, I wasn't expecting the tumult of what happened. Bloggers from all around the world were sharing their own stories and receiving encouragement from one of the most supportive communities out there (crafters of course!).

3. Send a card. During the Hop, you can send me cards that will be delivered to the Community Violence Intervention Shelter in Grand Forks, ND - a nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, counseling, supportive services, and safe visitation. 

More information can be found on our FACEBOOK PAGE. Please join the event, share with friends, and feel free to grab that image above to put into your sidebar! 

STAMPlorations Birthday Blog Hop Bash Day 1 - $100 in Prizes!

Today is a day for celebration, my friends!! 

STAMPlorations is turning 2!!

If you've stopped by my blog, you know how much I love this stamp company. It's owned by the incredibly thoughtful, generous and talented Shery Russ and I'm so proud to support them. 

We would LOVE for you to celebrate with us! And to win some of the amazing prizes that are available!

In honor of STAMPlorations 2nd birthday, there are three new birthday-themed sets available and I am loving them. 

We've also got a stellar guest designer celebrating with us today - Amy Tsurata of Tsurata Designs! 

For my day one card, I played around with the  PartyGirl and Party Time stamp sets and made this card:

Isn't it fun and bright?! I stenciled fun Distress Ink colors with the Confetti Circles ARTPlorations stencil and paper pieced a matching dress for my Party Girl. I embossed the sentiment and added in some texture with some green sparkly mesh. A perfect card for a celebration!

Check out what the rest of the team made! You'll find links to all birthday blog hop projects here.

There are two different ways to get in on the mega-prize-giveaway-action:

1. You can hop along with the STAMPteam and comment 

2. You can link up a party/celebration/birthday project! (Using ANY products)

Remember there are over >>$100<< of prizes that will be given away, so you don't want to miss out!

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On a more personal note - I just got back from a 3-day kid's camp and will be making the rounds to visit all of you kind folks who left amazing comments for me. I haven't forgotten about you!

STAMPlorations Blog Hop - Noteworthy

Well, friends, have I got something AWESOME to show you. Seriously. STAMPlorations has a new stamp release out and I get to hop along in a 5-day blog hop! Today is day 3 of the hop, in which a ton of prizes are being given out faster than jellybeans on Easter. 

Today, we're putting the

Spotlight on NOTEWORTHY

I jumped at the chance (not literally because I wasn't wearing a sports bra and I would be liable to pull my back out) to use these sentiments. I have a lot of happy birthday or thank you sentiments, but these are really unique and I the font just grabs me. 

To showcase the font, I went all purple. 

I shabby chic-ed up the edges and layered and then I layered some more, and then... just for good measure I layered again. The gorgeous morning glories are from the Blossom Overture stamp set. And I have to thank my good friend, Lizzy Hill for the bold striped ribbon. I love it so much that I didn't want to use the only scrap I had, but I think I gave it a good life. :) 

Stops on the hop:

Darnell - Guest Designer

Becca

Cornelia

Deepti

Julie

Maria

Monika

Shery

Shirley

Vicki

Prizes:

• FIVE (5) commenters randomly drawn from the designers' blogs will each win a $10 gift certificate.
• ONE (1) commenter randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations blog will win a $25 gift certificate
• + surprise prizes 

 

I'm also sending this over to Creative Card Crew - sentiment, Virginia's View - layers and dimension, Pile it On - April showers bring May flowers.