USA!

****IF YOUR LOOKING FOR AFTERNOON TEA PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE SECOND POST!****
I just finished watching the Canada vs USA hockey match and although I am proud and ever so grateful to be a US citizen I was just as thrilled to see Canada and Sid the Kid win the Gold medal! His game winning goal was so fast I totally missed it, he is amazing and we are so fortunate to have him play for Pittsburgh!

In keeping with the grateful and proud theme I wanted to post this card that I made for the MOXIE FAB CHALLENGE to use embroidery floss on your card before the deadline. Hence the second post for today.
I used embroidery floss as the straps for the soldiers parachute.
I gave Soldier Ian from THE GREETING FARM a little sex change and made him into Soldier Anya. After all girls work just as hard as the guys in aiding our country.


The card was made as a slider card so that she could lazily float back and forth and to reveal the sentiment which we all know is soooo true!

I have to say I love how this card turned out but don't have anyone to send it to. I have a sister that is retired from the Air Force but I don't have any friends or family that are currently in the military. If you have a loved one (female of course)that you think would enjoy this card leave a comment telling me you would like to have it. I will send it to the first person to do so. It is pretty big so it doesn't really fit in an envelope but it can be sent in a bubble mailer.

I have a tutorial on how I made the card but it is in pieces right now so I will have to post it on Tuesday.

Make sure you stop back tomorrow for something I am really excited about!

AFTERNOON TEA!

Hello!

A cordial and formal WELCOME to The Greeting Farm's "TEA TIMES THREE" release party! This is the FIRST of THREE Tea Parties today at The Greeting Farm, all leading up to our release at MIDNIGHT CST (3/1)!!!

Please sit back, have a sip, and savor the cuteness, because it's time for AFTERNOON TEA with Oliver and Amelia!

We are so excited about this release, and as the hours go by, the tea gets more twisted! But for now, we're all on our best behavior and are happy to introduce you to our latest rubber friends and welcome you to this event!

This sweetheart is Amelia and I thought she would be so perfect for a little girls birthday card. I used my Cricut and the Storybook cartridge to cut out the sixes for the card base and oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities for Amelia.

Oliver and Amelia can't stay out and play TOO much longer, but have no fear, they'll be released at the stroke of MIDNIGHT CST tonight! But in the meantime, head over to the TGF Blog and follow the simple, civilized instructions to enter to WIN the new "Oliver and Amelia" set from The Greeting Farm! You'll have until 9am CST tomorrow (Monday, 3/1) to enter to WIN, and be sure to stop by the Club Anya and Friends Blog tomorrow morning for ANOTHER chance to WIN FREE STAMPS!

All winners will be announced shortly after that on Monday Morning, and each tea party has a winner, so don't forget to come back for our "High Tea" celebration at 5pm CST. Pinkie's up, everyone!

Stop back tomorrow for a fun announcement!

MAD HAT TUTORIAL

I had a question about how I made the hat. It was a pretty simple one to make so I thought I would show the basic procedure I use to make the majority of shaped cards I have done.

Step #1. Search the web for whatever shape I am interested in. Go to google and choose images from the top left side.
In this case I wanted a mad hatter shaped hat so (duh) I typed in "mad hatter hat" and got all kinds of fun pics.

I chose this one. HERE is the link if you want to use the same.


I copied and pasted the photo into a word document. I haven't figured out how to go directly to photoshop for some reason so I just save it as a word document and then open it in photoshop.

Step#2 Make it the size you want in photoshop or whatever photo editing program you like. You can even do this while still in word but I prefer photoshop because it is easier for me to get it precisely the size I want.

In this case I elongated the hat picture so that it was a bit taller and then made it about 5X5.5 inches in size.

Step #3 Print off several copies

Step #4 Cut the copies into template pieces.

This is my first copy which I am using for the template of the top of the hat.
Cut on the dotted lines.


















I wanted the hat to have a more curved appearance to the sides so I flipped the template over and used my curved ruler to indent the sides.


This is my second copy which I am using to make the brim template.
































I now have pattern pieces to trace around on my cardstock. Since I was using black CS I used my white gel pen to trace the pieces.

I felt it looked a little flat to I attached the black CS to some silver CS and trimmed closely around the edges just to give it a little dimension. I did this on the brim also. A piece of wide ribbon was wrapped around the base.

I also put a thin piece of ribbon along the top edge of the brim. Pop dots were used to prop up the brim so that the card would fit neatly inside.




I hope this was helpful and I am happy clarify any questions you may have just send me an email parosc@gmail.com.

MAD AS A HATTER!

I have to admit that I never read Alice in Wonderland, saw the Disney version and an old movie version though and I am looking forward to the new movie. It looks pretty amazing just for the makeup and costumes alone.


Speaking of amazing, how great is this new digi stamp from THE GREETING FARM! I was floored when I saw them(there are three), they are so unique and just plain fun. The three CREEPY CAKE GIRLS, "ROYAL PAIN" (off with her head?!), "FREAKY FLUTTER", and TWISTED TEA will be available March 1st at TGF.

I made a "mad hat" as the base and tucked in my little TWISTED TEA Girl. The sentiment was computer generated. I think this would make a really fun party invite. Put the who, when and where info on the back of the hat and send it off.

Today's Farm Fresh Friday challenge incorporates our favorite thing...Dessert!
Though I think I would be a little afraid of taking a bite of Twisted Tea
Your mission, should you choose to accept it? Create a card or project using DESSERT as the main course :) More details and previews on the TGF BLOG so head over there for some freakish fun!
Be sure to stop by the Club Anya and Friends blog today too for something SO Cute you won't want to miss out-it's a HAPPY DAY on the Farm all together!
And don't forget our "Tea Times THREE" Release party on the TGF Blog on SUNDAY, 2/28 starting at NOON CST. There will be prizes and some freakishly fun times so don't miss out!
Have a great weekend!

PROJECT STUFF
STAMPS - THE GREETING FARM, Twisted Tea
ETC., - PRISMA PENCILS, GAMSOL, COPICS, SPELLBINDERS RECTANGLE DIE, RIBBON, CHARM FROM JOANN'S I THINK

HOW DARLING!

Thanks to you all who wished me well! In visiting blogs I see a lot of you have had the same type of cold and I wish you all a speedy recovery. I am slowly feeling somewhat human again though I haven't spent much time in the craft room. But, I couldn't wait to work with the new releases from The Greeting Farm, they are THAT good!

Today's sneak peek is a little cutie from a set called Darling Sisters and they so are! They will be available March 1st.



I used a sketch from Jen Del Muro's SFYTT challenge.






Stop back tomorrow for a a very twisted farm fresh Friday!

PROJECT STUFF
STAMPS - THE GREETING FARM, DARLING SISTERS,
PAPER - DIGITAL ANEMONA, SHABBY CHIC ROSE; SU, SAGE SHADOW, GINA K PURE LUX WHITE
ETC., - PRISMA PENCILS, GAMSOL, RIBBON, PRIMA FLOWERS, EDGE PUNCH, FLOWER PUNCH, PEARLS

A COLORFUL FFF!

Happy Friday!!! This has been a looong week for me. I have been hoping to avoid getting my yearly, nasty cold and thought I had almost made it when I felt the tickle of a sore throat last Friday. Ugh! I think I will spend the weekend in my pjs holed up in my craft room!

I did manage to eek out this card for our FARM FRESH FRIDAY CHALLENGE which is to use the color combo Kraft, Groovy Guava (or Melon Berry), Chocolate Chip.



I went light on the kraft, used it only as my card base and went mainly with the GG and CC. I used Cheeky Rockabilly, I can not get enough of those Cheeky gals!

Sorry for the brief post but I am going back to sniffling in my kleenex and watching the Olympics. I don't like snow or to participate in winter sports and I HATE cold weather but I have been obsessed with the winter Olympics since I was a kid, go figure!
Have a great weekend!

AN "EGG"STRA SPECIAL WINNER!

Thanks so much to everyone who visited and played along!

CONGRATULATIONS JAN!
who said...

I would like to guess 99 please..I have just found your blog today via the hop and am a follower now..so pleased to have stumbled across your gorgeous work

YOU ARE THE WINNER OF MY BLOG CANDY! THERE WERE 98 PEANUT M&M'S IN THE JAR. SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO PAROSC@GMAIL.COM AND I WILL SEND YOU THE INFO FOR THE GIFT CERTIFICATE!




This is Easter Anya from The Greeting Farm bringing treats a little early this year to Jan.

BLOG CANDY!

....BE SURE TO CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE AT MY BLOGAVERSARY CANDY it ends tonight at midnight EST....

I will announce the winner tomorrow morning!

Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments on yesterday's blog hop. Aren't those Cheekies fabulous? I can't pick a favorite they are all too cute!

MY CHEEKY VALENTINE BLOG HOP!

....BE SURE TO CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE AT MY BLOGAVERSARY CANDY....

HELLO and WELCOME to our highly anticipated "My CHEEKY VALENTINE" Blog Hop!

We are SO excited to finally celebrate the release of The Greeting Farm's BRAND NEW stamp line, the Cheeky Cherry Sprouts! You've seen the previews, and we're so happy you agree that Rockabilly, Shooter, and Glamour have found a home on the Farm and in our hearts!
Today we have a SPECIAL surprise for you...the ENTIRE TGF DESIGN TEAM, both current AND ALUM were asked to participate in this event! We are THRILLED to be back as one big team and are prepared to ROCK THE FARM tonight, so sit back, grab some tea or maybe some of that Valentine's chocolate, and ENJOY!

Cheeky Glamour is certainly a star so I perched her right on top of one. I got the template for this wonderful star card from Peet's Scrapalbum.



Cheeky Shooter says you can park your boots under her bed anytime.

The whole time I was making this I was singing the Shania Twain song "Whose bed have your boots been under?" Love that song!

The boot is from a tutorial I found HERE. It took me a while to figure it out but I think it is such a cool treat (naughty or nice) holder.

Now, what would a hop be, especially on Valentine's Day, without PRIZES??? Well, there are PLENTY of them hanging around, and for our overseas friends, fear not, you will have until 9am CST TOMORROW (Monday, 2/15) to enter your comments to WIN the new stamps!

ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be chosen from the Club Anya & Friends Blog to WIN ALL THREE Cheeky Cherry stamps! In addition, Jessica has "hidden" SIX Cheeky Cherry singles on certain team member's Blogs, both PAST and PRESENT, and those people will be able to CHOOSE which Cheeky they want to take hom! That's 9 singles being given away today, everyone! Can you say AWESOME???
THE CHEEKY CHERRY stamps will be released Monday 2/15 at 12AM CST, in just a few hours! We anticipate that they will go fast as these sweet and sassy little bombshells have been quite well received from what we've been hearing, so scoop yours up ASAP! ALL winners will be posted on the Club Anya blog on Monday morning shortly after the 9am deadline. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks so much for participating and for stopping by today, and be sure to stop by LYNDA NIELSON'S blog now...she's the NEXT STOP on the HOP!

Have a VERY Cheeky Evening, everyone ;)


Here is the OFFICIAL "My Cheeky Valentine" Blog Hop order in case you get lost:
Club ANYA & Friends Blog
Randi Wall
Tammy Maxvill
Melyssa Connolly
Mary Giles
Elena Joldersma
Maria Bell
Tori Wild
Sparkle Smith
Traci Porter
Lisa Futch
Cheryl Walker
Cindy Haffner
Kadie Ensley
Kim Nath (You are Here!)
Lynda Nielsen
Mercy Kerin
Sandra MacLean
Lysa Rohrer
Kelly Booth
Kim Costello
Pam Varnell
Amy Young
Suzi McKenzie
Janna Hull
Jessica Diedrich
back to CA&F Blog to let us know you've completed the HOP!

ITS ALL ABOUT THE CHEMISTRY!

That is one of the sentiments on a super cool new set of stamps from There She Goes clear stamps. As you may or may not know I am a research biologist by day and I love collecting science related stamps. I have a pretty cool double helix and an awesome Einstein set but I have been looking for ages for lab equipment. When I saw that TSG had just come out with one called Chemistry I bought it immediately.

Of course I HAD to make a test tube treat rack with the set!

I made this for two different challenges and to give to my husband for V-day.

First off, There She Goes Blog had a color challenge to use pink, red and brown. I hope it is ok that I included some other colors as well.

And, for the MOXIE FAB Tuesday Trigger challenge to use this yummy pic as inspiration.


You can find the test tube rack tutorial at Lisa Somerville's Blog.
See you back here tomorrow for the Cheeky Blog Hop!

A VINTAGE FFF!

....BE SURE TO CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE AT MY BLOGAVERSARY CANDY....

I love vintage so I was excited to see that the FARM FRESH FRIDAY CHALLENGE suggested by our smokin' hot Farmer Randi Wall, was to make something in this style.

I used CHEEKY GLAMOUR, one of the three new "vintage" CHEEKY CHERRIES available on Monday, Febraury 15th. Since she seems to be a bit enamored of herself I made a huge vintage hand mirror to decorate my card. It was made using the oval, scalloped oval, fancy tag, and swirl spellbinders dies. I cut them out of brown CS and then embossed the entire thing with copper embossing power. I aged it around the edges with some black Stazon ink. It was the only type that would stick to the slick, embossed surface. I used a CB embossing folder for the top of the mirror and the swirl.



I then went straight to the sassy and sexy Mae West for the perfect quote.


I think the Cherries are perfectly wonderful for all kinds of romantic cards for that special someone in your life.
Have a great weekend and make sure to stop back on Sunday for the Cheeky Blog Hop starting at 8pm CST!

PROJECT STUFF
STAMP - CHEEKY GLAMOUR, THE GREETING FARM
PAPER - BURNT TURQUIOSE DIGI KIT, PAM LEFORS DESIGNS
GINA K PURE LUXURY WHITE
ETC., - RHINESTONE SWIRL, MICHAELS; COPICS, PRISMAS AND GAMSOL, RIBBON, HEART, IVORY COAST CHARMS

YOU MAKE MY HEART SING!

*****PLEASE CHECK OUT YESTERDAYS POST FOR MY BLOGAVERSARY CANDY!******

Another snowy day here in the tundra but I have a GREETING FARM preview that is sure to brighten the snowiest of days!

SOMETHING rather "CHEEKY" is coming to TGF...

You've seen the photos in the background of CHA .....you've heard some 'buzz' about Blogland...and NOW...a little sneak peek for you today. A little TEASE if you will...or maybe-a BIG tease? Either way, it's ALL leading up to a SPECIAL VALENTINE's DAY BLOG HOP that you will NOT want to miss!!!

A new line of Sprouts is coming to The Greeting Farm and the anticipation is at an all-time high....can you FEEL it in the air? We are TOTALLY psyched about this special release and can't wait to introduce you to "ROCKABILLY", "SHOOTER", and "GLAMOUR"... the first in our CHA Exclusive "CHEEKY CHERRY" release that will FINALLY be available to YOU on 2/15...

This is CHEEKY ROCKABILLY! Is she not the awesomest? I thought she looked like she was kicken up her heels to the Jerry Lee Lewis song Great Balls of Fire, so I made her a piano to dance and slide across. I am sorry to say that I don't have a tutorial for this because I was in such a hurry to to get it done to send it to Marie for CHA that I didn't take pics or really take note of how I made it. Sooo, I will try to duplicate it and take pics for you all to see. I have to admit this was one of my more complicated cards but I think the Cheekys are a cut above and deserve it. It really is a fun card with the side sliding out to deliver the message.


The little Miss Cherry herself will be hanging out this week for Farm Fresh Friday with another appearance, so be sure to stay tuned for that! For now, make sure you visit the DT's blogs to get a little more than a peek of these sassy, "cheeky" new releases coming SOON!


Don't miss out-see you back here on Friday and mark your calendars for a VERY Special SURPRISE and our RELEASE Blog Hop on SUNDAY, 2/14/10 at 8pm CST!!!

Have a VERY Cheeky day, everyone!

CAN IT BE?

I know everyone says this but could it really be a whole year since I started this blog? In a sense, it feels like I have been doing it forever yet it also feels like I just began yesterday- sounds like a badly written song doesn't it? Let me first say that I would have never started this blog if it weren't for the kind words of Jessica Deidrich. She was incredibly sweet and encouraging at the beginning and now, she is so wonderful to work with as the Design Team Coordinator for The Greeting Farm. Thanks so much Jess! And, I never would have continued had it not been for all of you who visit and leave such heartwarming comments, you all are so much fun to hear from.

As a thank you and to celebrate my one year BLOGAVERSARY on February 12th I am giving out some BLOG CANDY! Don't worry, I am not going to ask you to follow or spread the word, I just want to say thanks for all your support and wonderful comments! I am however going to make you work a little for it.

What is the Blog candy and what do I have to do you ask? Well, since I know a lot of you (if not all) are TGF fans I am giving a.....
$30.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to THE GREETING FARM so you can choose your sweets.

All you have to do is guess how many M&M's are in the candy jar I decorated with the newly rubberized EASTER ANYA.


You will have a till 12:00PM EST, Monday, February 15 to leave a comment making your best guess ON THIS POST ONLY. If there are more than one correct guesses, a random.org winner will chosen from them. They are peanut M&Ms by the way. GOOD LUCK!

IRONY!

Isn't the irony of life wonderful. Truly, I am not being sarcastic, I think it is what makes life interesting. My DH and I have been getting the house in order for our Superbowl party and as I mentioned earlier I was trying to finish some new LR curtains. Now, I have had the fabric for these for about 3 years and I didn't even like it anymore but I felt I had to make them on principle. Let me explain.

I was once a professional seamstress/designer but I never really did much home dec so when I stopped into a home dec fabric store a few years ago for some drapery fabric, I had no idea of the cost. I only knew that I had searched far and wide for the fabric I had envisioned in my head and I had finally found what I wanted. I ordered it not really paying attention to the cost thinking along the lines of Joann fabrics prices. Well let me tell you, the sticker shock when I went to pick it up floored me. No returns on cut, special order fabric either. Did you ever buy something and feel sick all the way home?

We are not poor by any means (though we aren't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination either) so it's not like we went without dinner or suffered but it was a very extravagant purchase for our budget. I am embarrassed to say how much and I don't want my DH to know just in case he reads this, just know it could have fed a family of 4 for a couple weeks.

The kicker is we added a window to our LR in the mean time so I had to scramble and piece to have enough for both windows. There was no way in Hades that I would have bought more.

So here they are. Technically they are fine, as sewing goes drapery is a pretty simple project (despite what they charge for them), but I have to say I don't really like the fabric anymore and the sofa that I made them to go with is just about ready to be sent to the basement rec room.

Oh yeah, here is the ironic part, we can't have our super bowl party because we have over 2 feet of snow (which you can see through the window) and we still haven't been able to get our driveway cleared (we live in the country) so we can't get to the store and no one could park if they did make it here. You gotta laugh!

A SKETCHY FFF!

Hope you all enjoyed the blog hop, thanks again for all the super sweet comments! Today's FARM FRESH FRIDAY CHALLENGE is to use a sketch provided by our fabulous Mercy Kerin.





I used the IVY MORNING digi by Marina. It is so sweet and can be used for so many different occasions. The image was cut out and the shutters bent forward so that the Ivy could be draped around the one side. The sentiment is from the HELLO GO ROUND SET.


Have a SUPER (Bowl)weekend! I'll post pics of those *#@*&* curtains that I finally finished next week.

PROJECT STUFF
Stamp - Ivy Morning, Hello Go Rounds, The Greeting Farm
Paper - Close to My Heart
Etc., - Spellbinders, Ivy Border Grand, flowers, Prisma pencils, gamsol, copics, SU scallop circle punch, plain circle punch

HAPPY GROUND HOG DAY AND SOME CONGRATS!

How cute is this Groundhog Ipod cover? I found it HERE. Looks pretty simple to make.
Punxy Phil has apparently seen his shadow so six more weeks of winter (boo) for us. However, it is a sunny day for one lucky commenter on my blog.

Thanks so much for all the kind and generous comments left on my and all the teams blogs yesterday! You all are the best, The Greeting Farm has THE most wonderful fans ever! The winner from my blog was........

ANNE B.

Anne won all the new Chibi Digis lucky girl! Make sure you contact Jess at yeahshestamps@gmail.com to get your fabby prize.

TIME TO HOP!

Happy Monday everyone! Welcome to The Greeting Farm's February Release and BLOG HOP!

We will have LOTS of prizes hidden along the way today, including the new Chibi digis, Marina digis, and the new "Sweet Tooth" set, also illustrated by Marina Neira!
All you have to do is ENJOY the hop, leave a comment along the way on each DT members blogs to enter into all the "secret" contests, and tune into the TGF Blog tomorrow to find out WHO won!

Make sure to leave a comment on the TGF blog too, letting us know you've finished the hop because one lucky winner will take home ALL of the above! The contest will run from 12:01 am CST (releases are avail. at midnight CST) to 9pm CST.

The NEW RELEASES are now available in the TGF store. These include the new Anya stamps as well as our fun releases too! LOTS of goodies, so be sure to check out the site! Don't forget to check out the Club Anya & Friends Blog too for another FUN edition of Monday Mania and also another chance to WIN!

We are SO excited about our trip to CHA, a HUGE surprise we have planned for you during the month of February, and a few other surprises along the way. We hope you'll be excited with the new releases, chances to win, and also ask for your patience with our shipping as we are busy filling CHA orders as well this week. We strive to provide you with the best Customer Service you've always known to be true at TGF and thank you SO, SO much for coming along for this AMAZING ride!

I used Marina's Sweet Tooth set to make a little treat cup to place on a birthday girl's chair or doorknob. I made it big enough to fill it with treats and little toys.
Be sure to check out the rest of the hop. If you're just getting here to my blog, be sure to start at the TGF Blog for the complete list of DT members and be sure to check out the order here, too:

TGF BLOG
Cheryl Walker
Cindy Haffner
Kadie Ensley
Kim Nath (that's me)
Mary Giles
Melyssa Connolly
Randi Wall
Mercy Kerin
Sandra Maclean
Sparkle Smith
Jessica Diedrich
back to TGF Blog

Next stop is Mary Giles's blog! Have a WONDERFUL day and thanks for stopping by!!!