SWEET!

It's a monochromatic FARM FRESH FRIDAY! It was very challenging for me to create a project in a single color. Initially, I thought it might be kinda boring. But I found (by looking at other peoples gorgeous work) that it can be very visually appealing and fast when you don't have to color an image or put together colors.


The adorable image is part of a new rubber set by Marina Neira from THE GREETING FARM
called Sweet Tooth which will be available on Monday, February 1st.

I picked up this SEI paper pack a while back from the clearance aisle at Michaels because I loved the earth tones in all the different patterns and it worked great with this challenge. The button was from the clearance bin too and the swirl was cut using my Cricut and the Storybook cart. The image was stamped and sponged with SU Chocolate chip ink which matched pretty well. I was tempted to give them some rosey cheeks but I didn't want to cheat for the challenge, maybe I will do that before I send it off.
Have a great weekend!

GOT CHIBIS?

Happy Thursday! I have been pretty lazy about stamping these days (I have those darn curtains to finish) but I was motivated by some super new stuff being released on February 1st from THE GREETING FARM.

This is a new digital stamp from the Chibi line. I always have a hard time with older guy cards and I really liked this one because it makes a perfect dad card.

I did some major casing on this card(told you I was being lazy), I got the idea of the stop watch from the incredibly talented TOSH. Sorry I don't have the direct link, I couldn't find it - note to self, bookmark, bookmark, bookmark! I also used a card layout from another crazy talented stamper Kim Teasdale.

The Greeting Farm is HOPPIN' this week and we have all come down with DIGI-fever!
In addition to an AMAZING rubber release on the 1st AND a surprise coming around Valentine's day, TGF welcomes a few new kids on the block this month...and a few new Critters, too! We'll be showing you a rubber set tomorrow, and don't forget to "HOP" on over to Club Anya today for a sneak peek of what's coming....you MAY remember this digi too that is now being offered in rubber (wink wink!)! I can hear the pitter patter of excited little feet RIGHT NOW!

On the TGF Blog, we have a wonderful new Chibi line...all cute boys this time, illustrated by the sweet and talented Jessica Hymas, and we also welcome three new dynamite digis by Marina Neira. These 3 new Critters just might be the CUTEST in the CREW!

Be sure to check out the AMAZING samples from the TGF Farmers and our beloved Critter Crew, too: all the links are on my sidebar.

I'll be back tomorrow with another super SWEET preview combined with a new Farm Fresh Friday challenge, hope to see you then!

IT'S A BRIGHT BRIGHT SUNSHINY DAY!

NOT!!! Up here in the Northeastern US the sun hasn't been out for quite some time. I think that is part of the reason why I have been in a grouchy funk for the past week. I had a 3 day weekend and didn't do a bit of crafting, I didn't even touch the computer. Now I am behind again and my husband informed me that we are having a bunch of people over for the Super Bowl and I have to get the living room curtains (long story for another day) done.

Thankfully, the challenge this week at THE GREETING FARM is to make a summer themed card. Once I actually got started on it, it did indeed lift my spirits. What says summer more than flowers, right so that is what I used along with Gigi who is a definite flower power girl.
I found this wonderful flower card template at Peet's Scrapalbum blog. I adore and greatly admire her work,it is always soft and drop dead beautiful. I dug around in my scraps and came up with this cheery paper (at least it was to me) and added some flowers and ribbon.
Check out the challenge, it is sure to cheer up even the most snowbound of us (I am sticking my tongue out at all you warm weather chicks LOL!) Also, be sure to check out all the details of the TGF CHA RELAY starting on Sunday. Sounds like so much fun, I will be trying to play along myself!

A THOUSAND WORDS

It really is true about a picture being worth that many words. When I look back at my family photos I can easily go on at least that long with the story behind each and every one.


This week's FARM FRESH FRIDAY CHALLENGE is to incorporate a picture into a project. Since I have been slowly getting into digital scrap booking I decided to make a hybrid calender project featuring a picture of my sweet little niece.

Not sure if you can see but she is holding a tiny little fist full of miniature dolls and toys. If I remember correctly, this was the only way my sister could get her to stay in front of the camera and even then she was still in motion. It made for an awfully cute pic. Sweet little RUBY from THE GREETING FARM reminded me of those little dolls (and my niece herself)in my niece's hands but she was a bit too big for the project so I shrunk her. I haven't shrunk something in quite a while but it is a fun way to make your own custom embellishments. I have a tutorial on how I do it HERE.
The entire picture and papers are all a digital composition which was printed on glossy photo paper and attached to a chipboard base. Magnetic strips were placed on the back so my sis could put it on the fridge if she wants.

PROJECT STUFF
Stamp - Ruby, The Greeting Farm, Calender, Close to my Heart
Paper - Pam Lefors Designs, Ever After Page Kit
Etc. - Chipboard mini album, buttons, embroidery floss, felt flowers

ENVELOPE CARD GUIDE

One of these days I will figure out how to do a PDF file of a template but until then a picture and measurements will have to do. But it is pretty simple to make the envelope card found HERE using just a ruler.

The actual card was cut in one piece from 12X12 inch card stock but the template was made from 8.5X11 inch paper taped together. I used a ruler (I like using my big quilting ruler it has lots of lines for guides) to make a 5 3/4 inch X 11 1/4 inch rectangle. I drew in dotted lines at 3 3/4 inch increments for my fold lines.



I measured 2 inches down on either side of the top segment and made a dot. I made another dot in the center (ignore the two little dots that was a mistake) of the 5 3/4 inch edge and drew lines to form a triangle.














I didn't want such a pointed edge so I measured down about a quarter of an inch and drew a horizontal line as a guide to cut off the point.



Easy peasy huh? Sorry it took so long to get this posted but you know how life gets in the way of crafting sometimes!

AN EARLY VALENTINE

Valentines day is probably my favorite holiday. Not sure why, I am not a romantic at all and I think there is way too much pressure on the guys for this one. Maybe because I like pink and hate winter. The holiday seems a nice way to break up the frigid winter and pink is a warm happy color. I always think I am going to get an early start and make everyone fabulous Valentines Day treats/cards but usually time slips away and I am scrambling.

Not this year though. Stella, from The Greeting Farm and Mary's glitter challenge (see below) has inspired an early Valentine's Day project.

I used my Cricut and the Bags, tags, boxes cart to make this sweet heart shaped treat holder and placed Stella on the front holding her little message of love.

I placed some acetate behind the cut out heart so the treats won't fall out. And yes, I know the hearts are upside down. I cut it out backwards obviously but once it is filled with chocolate the kids won't even notice.

Sooooo, WELCOME BACK to our first Farm Fresh Friday of 2010!

We're excited to be back with some super fun challenges for you each Friday and can't wait to see how YOU get Fresh with the Farm!

Today we also are excited to announce the new "Brand Name" for Marina Neira's animal line! We are SO pumped about the TGF "Critter Crew" brand of stamps that we are actually celebrating by putting a little blog badge out there for all of you to proudly display on your blogs, too!

Are you NEW to Marina's animal stamps? Not only are the cuddly cute, they are AMAZINGLY fun to color come in digital designs and rubber! There's something for everyone in the TGF Critter Crew line of stamps!

And now....with an even BIGGER announcement before we get to this week's FFF Challenge. Please join me in welcoming our Jan/Feb 2010 CRITTER CREW GUEST DESIGNERS! We've put a team of three AMAZING gardener-alum together for a limited time to celebrate the official name and and re-launch of the CRITTER CREW....and when you SEE how these gals can color, you won't be surprised to welcome back:

MERCY KERIN
SANDRA MACLEAN, and
SPARKLE SMITH!

Hooray! These talented ladies will be bringing you tons of critter cuteness through the end of February each week here for FFF, so give them a a shout out!

Now, onto the challenge! This week's challenge comes from our beloved new Farmer Mary Giles! Mary challenges us this week to Use Glitter....and Glue! in your project. Could be loose glitter (ack!), Stickles, whatevah ;) Just make it sticky and sparkly, LOL....and you're there!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Today is the DAY! The FIRST day of 2010, RELEASE DAY at The Greeting Farm, and the GRAND OPENING of the CLUB ANYA & FRIENDS CHALLENGE BLOG!

TO kick off our celebration, ALL NEW RELEASES are available at 9AM CST on the TGF site. Also, we are hosting an ENTIRE DAY of CHALLENGES on the CLUB ANYA & FRIENDS Blog...beginning at 9AM CST so be sure to come over and party with us! The TGF DT and Team Anya have joined forces for this release and EACH member has a SPECIAL CHALLENGE for you today so head on over, check out our new 'digs', grab a badge, or two....and CELEBRATE the NEW YEAR with The GREETING FARM!



I used Rockin' little Chelsea to make an IPOD shaped card -which is just a rectangle with the edges rounded with a corner rounder punch. I cut out the window with a spellbinders die first then cut the rectangle around it. Circle punches were used for the dial and the earbuds.

The menu word was generated from the printer and the little arrows and slashes were hand drawn. Which is why they are bit crooked. The sentiment is from the new TALK LOUD SET. Fun card for a tween's B-day.

In addition, the TGF Blog is hosting our 12th and FINAL Sketch Challenge of our "12 DAYS OF SKETCHES" so be sure to head on over, check out the sketch, and see who won last week's FFF challenge, too! Also, be sure to WELCOME our THREE NEW FARMERS as they officially start their term TODAY! Our 12 Days of Sketches challenge has been a HUGE SUCCESS and we thank you all for your participation! Remember, you have until SUNDAY, 1/3/10 at 8PM CST to complete all 12 and be entered to win the GRAND PRIZE. ONE RANDOM WINNER who completes all 12 sketches will WIN the ENTIRE JANUARY RELEASE TODAY (not incl. the presale on the new Happy Day set).





Have a great time ringing in the NEW Year with our "IN WITH THE NEW at TGF" BASH going on NOW at the Club ANYA and FRIENDS BLOG! Remember, for today's hourly challenges, each challenge winner will receive a new Sprout of their choice, so be here to party with us! Live overseas? No problem! Challenges will be open through SUNDAY, 1/3/10 at 8pm CST. WINNERS will be announced on the TGF blog and CA blog on Monday, 1/4, along with the winner of the 12 days of Sketches contest.

In addition to each individual challenge, ANOTHER prize pack of the ENTIRE Jan. release will go to a random winner who completes ALL of the New Year's Challenges!

Thank you for making 2009 such a HUGE success for The Greeting Farm, and thanks for being here for the NEW YEAR, NEW RELEASE, NEW BLOG and TONS of NEW FUN to be had on the FARM in 2010!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!