It’s time for the monthly DeNami Blog Hop and this month the theme is Summer Splash. If you started from the beginning, you should be coming from Dana Seymour’s blog {this girl has the greatest tropical cards EVER}!
The name of this hop immediately prompted thoughts of drinks and I thought I’d go a little different route and create something other than a card. After playing with my options, I decided on summer straw toppers. They’re super quick and easy to whip up and they could make any BBQ or party a little more festive.
Be sure to leave comments on each blog stop. We’re giving away gift certificates to two random comments and with the new release here, you’ll definitely have fun shopping!
If you follow my blog, you know I’m a fan of these adorable striped paper straws by Little Free Radical. They could make any special occasion more festive and who doesn’t love sipping yummy drinks out of pretty straws? I pulled out my orange ones for this hop, but there are so many other colors in her store…. you really could have them match whichever color palette you’d like.
In case you’re wondering which stamps I featured today, I used the Medium Solid Hibiscus and the Large Solid Bamboo Leaf. These solid images worked so perfectly with my new neon inks {you’ll see which ones in my haul video tomorrow}.
It’s time to head on over to the next stop of the hop: Ardyth’s blog! This gal has such creative ideas and the way she showcases DeNami stamps is astounding. I can’t wait to see what she created for this hop.
I hope you’ll join me tomorrow for a small haul video featuring some goodies I’ve been eying for a while. I still haven’t decided what else to include in the post, so you’ll have to stop by and check it out! *wink*
Do you ever see a stamp set and fall in love instantly? That’s what happened as soon as I saw the sketches that Nami did for what is now the Solid Rose Accents set {that just released today over at DeNami Design}. The rose captured my heart and I knew the possibilities with it would be endless. I have definitely found my new favorite stamp set!
I wanted to go use some bright and happy colors and chose melon/ berry colors as my base. After playing with these roses, I had to restrain myself from going out in search of flowers these colors! I’m such a sucker for fresh cut flowers, especially ones in pretty colors!
You may have noticed that I faintly stamped the roses on my main panel. Since I didn’t have any good light colored inks that matched it, I did the tried and true stamp on scratch paper/ stamp on panel trick. I haven’t done this in ages, but it got the job done for this project!
Since this set JUST released today and I want to pass on my love of it, I purchased one to giveaway! To enter, you just need to tell me what your favorite flower is! Easy peasy! I’ll run the giveaway through the weekend and announce it on the blog Monday, July 15th.
I hope you all have a fabulous Wednesday. For those of you who plan on shopping over at DeNami later on, HAPPY SHOPPING!
For my readers that are fans of DeNami Design, you know that we are in the process of sneak peeks right now. In fact, there’s only a couple more days until the new release goes live {hello July 10th}! Normally I provide videos to coordinate with the sneak peeks and card samples of the stamps, but as you may have noticed, that didn’t happen this time around. Between health issues and a crazy schedule, I just couldn’t make it work this time around.
Not to fret, the DeNami DT has created AMAZING samples and I was able to create a few myself. If you haven’t already, be sure to head on over to the DeNami blog to see what the design team has created and to enter for a chance to win one of the SIX gift certificates we are giving away!
Today’s card is a little peek into one of the new sets- Pretty Paisley, which is a cling set with three individual images. I always love the aqua and green color combination and I must say, it looks fabulous with these paisley stamps.
These paisley stamps are so easy to use and I love how you can customize them to be whichever colors you like. I plan on trying out lots more colors in the future, so stay tuned!
As some of you may have seen on my Twitter or Facebook pages, this weekend didn’t go how I planned at all. On Friday morning, I passed out under a less than ideal situation and it put quite a wrench into my plans. These last few days I’ve been nursing a concussion and my bed has been my best friend. It’s the moments when I’m secluded to my bed that I realize I really need to spend some time dressing up my room. Pinterest, since you and I are buds and I can spend time with you in bed {hello handy dandy iPhone app!}, I’ll be pinning up some ideas stat.
For those of you who have emailed me, I’ll be responding as soon as I can. The moments of not feeling dizzy and nauseous come and go, so I’m trying to make the most of them. To all of you who have uploaded to the 10 Minute Craft Dash #21 thus far, thank you! The entries that have come in are amazing and I’m thrilled they are coming in so quickly! Crossing my fingers I can find time to visit each of your blogs! :)
I am so excited that you have stopped by for the new 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge! With the 4th of July upon us here in the United States, I thought it would be fun to make the theme for this week STARS! These can be incorporated in so many different ways and colors, I’m sure you’ll find all sorts of creative uses to add them to your projects this week!
This week I have a new sponsor to introduce you to, along with a fabulous prize, special guests AND let’s not forget this is the first post with the new design team! It’s an exciting week for the challenge and I hope you’ll join in the fun!
* If you aren’t able to stay within the 10 minutes, you can still link up your item! While it won’t quality for the winner spot, it still could qualify as a favorites pick!
Now onto the great prize! I’m so thrilled to announce that Clearly Besotted Stamps will be sponsoring this challenge. They have a growing collection of photopolymer stamp sets and steel dies and the quality is fantastic! If you were inspired by the star projects above, wait until you see what some of the Clearly Besotted DT has created! These gals are all so talented and I cannot wait to see how they did on their first Craft Dash challenge!
The day is finally here- I get to announce the new 10 Minute Craft Dash design team! I received so many incredible applications from around the world, the decision was such a difficult one. After making my final picks, I also ensured that there was a range of crafting styles within the team. We each are inspired by different things and I tried my best to make sure there was something for everyone {based on the applications submitted}.
There are six brand new designers joining the team and I have one returning designer. Words cannot express how excited I am to work with these talented ladies from across the globe. Last term, I put together a calendar showcasing the designers locations and I thought I would do it again. Isn’t it neat to see that there are fellow Craft Dashers all over the globe?!
Are you ready to meet and get to know the design team? Below are a few questions to get to know them a bit and if you click their pictures, you’ll be taken to their blogs. Remember, you’re always welcome to follow them and share some blog love!
Describe your craft style in three words: Fun, fresh & cute
Most used craft embellishment: For almost every single card I use stamps, then die cut shapes and ribbon/ twine
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: scissors, rulers, and double sided tape
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash: I enjoy it because it gives me the impulse to be better, faster and organized. Having the challenge to make a project in 10 minutes teaches you to make right choices faster, all these things will make you a better crafter every single day.
Describe your craft style in three words: Colorful, clean & simple
Most used craft embellishment:twine, ribbon and bling
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: paper trimmer, tape runner and scissors
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash:I love the color combinations and the time pressure.
Describe your craft style in three words: CAS (technically 3 words, but who’s count?!), chaotic and eclectic
Most used craft embellishment:At the moment it’s probably ribbon but it changes with the weather
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: My Fiskars Stamp Press- LOVE it
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash:I get a bit of a kick out of the sense of urgency- it really makes you focus and cuts out so much of the procrastination.
Describe your craft style in three words:Pretty with stitching
Most used craft embellishment: It would be a toss up between my stamps and patterned paper
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: My ruler (everything has to be straight!)
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash:I can waste a lot of time at my craft table, pulling out different options, debating on what to use. I like that the 10 Minute Craft Dash has me choose my supplies and challenges me to stick with my plan and get something accomplished quickly.
Describe your craft style in three words: Diverse (I hope!), Stampy, Layered
Most used craft embellishment:Buttons and stick pins. I go through these faster than anything else. Oh, and lace.
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: Everything… seriously, it’s like a bomb went off. I could not create without my blocks – I almost never create a project that doesn’t include any stamping
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash: I love to push myself and see just how much I can get done in 10 minutes. From when I first started playing along in these challenges to now, I think I’ve really developed a system and a confidence that allows me to get a lot done in a little bit of time. Not to mention that Paulina always comes up with the most incredible colour combinations – which also force me to stretch outside my comfort zone
Describe your craft style in three words: Simple, bold and fun
Most used craft embellishment:Twine, followed closely by blingy embellishments : sequins, enamel dots, rhinestones
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: My trusty paper trimmer
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash:Time is limited for me with a very busy 16 month old running around- it can get really frustrating to want to create, but feel like you never have the time. The 10 Minute Craft Dash pushes me to get in my craft room, take 10 minutes to make something, and get on with my day. I can feel accomplished instead of bummed I couldn’t carve out an hour to craft!
Describe your craft style in three words: Colorful, spunky, and simplified
Most used craft embellishment:Washi tape
Name something that never leaves your craft desk: my glue gun
Why do you enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash:I enjoy the 10 Minute Craft Dash because life is hectic and something all I have is 10 minutes to use my creativity and produce a stellar project!
A brand new challenge starts TOMORROW, but if you go to the Pretty Pink Posh Facebook page– you’ll get an exclusive peek at the challenge a day early! You’ll just need to go “like” the page, head to the exclusives tab and then you can start creating and have your project ready to link up first thing in the morning!
Thank you for visiting and celebrating this new team with me. See you bright and early tomorrow!
Today is the day…..I’ll be announcing the new 10 Minute Craft Dash DT! Seven talented gals from all across the globe on one team?! Stay tuned, it’s happening later this morning!
Before I can get to the announcement, I wanted to be sure to take care of the 10 Minute Craft Dash #20 Highlights post. Seeing the bright colors all over blog land was so fun and I loved all of the different occasions you were able to pair this color palette with!
Congratulations to Heather!
Heather please email me {click the contact on the top right} with your info to claim your DeNami gift certificate prize. Also, you get to grab the badge below and proudly display it on your blog!
Here are my favorites picks from this last challenge. If you haven’t already, be sure to stop by each of the blogs to take a look at the beautiful cards! {Ladies, feel free to grab the badge below and put it on your blogs!}
If you are interested in getting a head start on the next Craft Dash, I have the colors that will be featured on the Pretty Pink Posh Facebook page. This is EXCLUSIVE to those who like my page. If you go there and go to “exclusives”, you get to see the next 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge a day early!
In closing, I wanted to mention that I started a new tab under the “craft dash” section here on the blog. If you have played in at least three 10 Minute Craft Dash challenges and/or consider yourself a “Craft Dasher” or fan of the challenge, feel free to link up your site! This will be a great resource for those looking to follow new blogs and I think it would be fun to see the list grow as time goes on.
I will see you all in just a bit with the DT announcement!
For those new to my blog, on the first Monday of each month, I feature one of the bloggers that I follow. When I read blogs, I always enjoy getting to know the person BEHIND the blog. Whether it be a crafty blogger, a lifestyle blogger or a fellow young single gal- I love putting away the formalities and having a “conversation” with a blogger I enjoy.
My Featured Blogger today is taking the blog world by storm. She can be found on the Lil’ Inkers Designs, Clearly Besotted Stamps, CASE Study and Simon Says Stamp design teams. Her card designs are distinguishable and let’s not forget how gorgeous her work is. Please join me in welcoming Debby Hughes to the blog!
Let’s get started with the questions….
Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
I started my blog back in 2010 as I was keen to take part in the challenge blogs I so enjoyed. I was very nervous and wasn’t sure if anyone would call by to visit. However, I found the crafting world to be a truly friendly place filled with wonderful people many of whom I am now delighted to call friends.
Where did the name of your blog come from?
I love everything green and bright lime green is a particular favourite. The ‘doodle’ comes from a childhood nickname. My family called me Debby Doodle which sort of turned into Doodle Doo and eventually they just used to call me Doo!
How would you describe your cardmaking style?
I certainly aspire to a clean and simple style. When I’m browsing around the web it is CAS card design which stops my mouse clicking and makes me pause for a closer look :) Within CAS though I like to be quiet varied in theme. One day I can be colouring a cute image with Copics and then another trying a more elegant or artistic style.
What is your favorite embellishment to add to cards?
At the moment I seem to add either enamel dots or sequins. They seem to have taken over from the rhinestones and pearls I used to use to accent my cards.
If you could meet anyone in the crafting world, who would it be?
Oh I have so many crafty idols it’s impossible to pick! One person who influences the craft industry so much though is Cath Edvalson, Trends Editor for Paper Crafts magazine and author of Moxie Fab World. I am so often inspired by the posts Cath pops up on Moxie Fab.
For those new to cardmaking, what tips or suggestions would you give?
Browse blogs and sites such as Pinterest and work out what style you find inspiring. Then note some of the design features used by those crafters and try and incorporate them into your own projects. Most important of all though is to have fun and enjoy creating!
Okay, now onto some fun questions…..
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time {besides crafting}?
My children seem to think being the family taxi service is what I enjoy doing LOL! But given a choice I like to read, garden and chill out with my husband with a little TV and my laptop :)
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Anywhere I haven’t been yet! Now our children are a little older we are enjoying the travel options available to us which just seemed too difficult to pull off when they were younger. My eldest has certainly caught the travel bug and is always suggesting the furthest most exotic places to visit LOL.
If you had to choose one food or drink to live off of, what would it be?
Sad to say, but my friends know it’s true – Pepsi Max!
Name five things you’re passionate about:
Family
Friends
Family
Trying my best at whatever I choose to do
Family :)
Now that you have gotten to know this sweet gal, I’m sure you’re dying to check out her amazing blog. I’m fairly certain you’ll be adding her blog to your blogroll- she always posts such beautiful creations!
I hope that you enjoyed this feature and are just as inspired by this gal as I have been. Want to recommend a blogger, or yourself, for a future Featured Blogger post? Leave a comment with the blog link and you never know- you just might hear from me!
I will be back for the 10 Minute Craft Dash Highlights, info on how you can get an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming challenge AND then I’ll be announcing the new design team! It’ll be a day full of exciting info and I know it’ll get you excited for the new challenge on Wednesday. I hope to see you then!
How can it be that this is the last week of June?! This month has been so busy with behind-the-scenes prep for some upcoming events, my full-time job, health issues and things in between, that I feel like I’m barely holding on. Once August comes around, things will settle down a bit….I’m already looking forward to it!
In the past month I’ve had lots of new readers stop by, so I’ll introduce this feature a little bit. Each month I post a few of my favorite items from the month and do a little write-up about it. I will say that I’m not one to just post anything into this feature, so a product has to be pretty fantastic for it to make it in.
I’m going to be completely honest with you all….I’m horrible at applying make-up. I never really learned how to properly apply it, so I’ve been attempting faking it for years. I tried having someone at the Nordstrom make-up counter do it years ago {to teach me} and that was an epic fail. I watch YouTube videos occasionally to try to learn tips, but I still have a ways to go…. in the meantime, it’s eyeshadow palettes like this one that helps a TON. It tells me exactly where each color should go, so it really can’t get any easier. I’ve only tried Natural Smokes 02Q {since it was fairly neutral}, but I want to try other palettes down the road!
As many of you know, I’ve recent had to eliminate all grains/ gluten from my diet, along with many other things. In my attempt to still eat semi healthy, since I can’t really exercise at the moment, I’ve been on the lookout for healthy snacks. While I love fresh fruits, sometimes I want to change it up. My sister recently brought me a bag of Dang Coconut Chips {yes, that’s the brand} and they are DELICIOUS! You could easily use them with other foods, but I like to eat them straight out of the bag. *wink*
My bestie is the queen of recommending the best products. Seriously. She gets me hooked on so many things I never would have found and thankfully, most of them are fairly inexpensive. Recently she was talking about Mr. Clean Magic Erasers {after 25+ years of friendship, sometimes we talk about mundane things} and I told her I had never used one and asked why they were so great. She told me why she liked it and the next day I went out and bought a box. How in the world had I not used these before?! I got the bathroom one and it did wonders on the tub with very little elbow grease. Definitely a winner in my book.
I’ve been a fan of Instagram for quite a while now. As a person who is visual, seeing little peeks into my friends’ lives throughout the world is so much fun. In the course of poking around the app, I’ve been able to find so many new companies, bloggers and crafters. Also, seeing pictures of celebrities in their day-to-day lives is pretty neat, too! Recently Instagram added video to their app and I am IN LOVE. While I’m still a newbie to it, I can see so many great uses for it. Stay tuned…I’m thinking you’ll see some more in the future!
What are a few of YOUR random loves at the moment? It can be drinks, shows, clothing, movies, etc…. whatever products you’re loving, or have on your wish list, I’d love to read about them!
Hey y’all! I am so happy to be sharing another recipe on this beautiful Monday!
As you know, I’m living in NYC for the summer, and I’m loving every minute of it. There is so much to do, and I feel like every moment is busy, busy, busy. I’m gearing up for lots of visitors in the weeks ahead, including next weekend for the 4th of July! Grant is coming for the long weekend, and we have so much to see, explore, and taste. Luckily, he’s a foodie like me, so you can bet our days will absolutely be revolving around food!
In honor of my second favorite holiday that’s just 10 days away (Thanksgiving is my all time fave), I am sharing my recipe/DIY for Mason Jar Mini Cakes! Some of you may have seen these on my blog, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
I’m not sure about you, but I need something super simple and just as cute to bring along to picnics and parties next Thursday! You can’t go wrong with cupcakes, but I wanted to step it up a notch, while still keeping it easy. I’ve also been wanting to do something with mason jars for the longest time, so this was the perfect opportunity! These mason jar mini cakes will be sure to wow your guests and keep the kids happy!
How-To: Mini Mason Jar Cakes
{Disclaimer: Yes, I am using boxed cake mix, and yes, sometimes you just need to keep it semi-homemade. There is nothing wrong with it!}
Step 1– If you’re using boxed cake like I did, prepare the batter according to the directions. However, if you have a favorite cake recipe, by all means, make it!
Step 2– Divide the batter into 2 bowls. Using food coloring, color one bowl red and the other bowl blue.
Step 3– Bake accordingly.
Step 4– Let cool completely. Once cool, place both cakes onto a cutting board or countertop. Using a circle cookie cutter that fits into the mason jar opening {or knife}, cut out circles of each colored cake. I used a measuring cup to trace a knife around because none of my cookie cutters were small enough. Be sure the cookie cutter fits into the jar, otherwise the cake circles won’t fit! You will need an even number of both.
Step 5– Place one cake circle in the bottom of each jar. I chose blue as my base color.
Step 6– Make icing, or use store bought. I made a cream cheese icing, but any kind will do! Vanilla buttercream would be delish! I simply used a Ziploc bag and cut the corner off to pipe the icing on top of the blue cake. Use enough icing to make a complete white layer.
Step 7– Place the other cake circle {red} on top of the icing layer.
Step 8– Pipe icing on top of the second layer. In my case, this filled the jar to the top. If you’re using larger cups, continue this pattern until you reach the top of the jars.
Step 9– Add sprinkles, white chocolate chips, or any decorations you’d like! I used washi tape to create the cute cupcake topper.
Step 10– If traveling, place the mason jar lids on top, and store in the fridge until you’re ready to go.
Tip: These can be made 1-2 days in advance! Keep the stress and rushing around down by prepping these a couple days ahead of time! To make them even cuter, I placed the top on, then a matching cupcake liner, then the twisty part of the lid. That way, you don’t see the shiny metal, but they still look pretty!
What are your 4th of July plans? I love that the holiday falls on a Thursday – I lucked out and have Friday off, do you? Don’t forget to follow me for a sneak peek into my world of sweets, entertaining, crafting, and NYC living! I’ll be back to my southern ways in just 7 weeks!
One of my favorite things about this time of year? Fresh fruit! I’ve always been a fan of fruit, but as the years have gone on, I have become allergic to pitted fruit. Boo! I miss those yummy peaches, plums and cherries so very much. Thankfully, berries are not an issue and I’ve been eating my fair share of strawberries {and raspberries} this year.
A couple months ago, I created a card featuring strawberries {post here} and while I was playing with those stamps, I made this card as well. With my limited time in the craft studio lately, I thought today would be the perfect day to share it with you all.
It warms my heart that so many of my readers and crafty friends have found out about this AMAZING chevron twill ribbon. I have almost all of the colors and honestly, it’s hard for me to NOT use it on one of my projects. If you would like to purchase some of your own yummy ribbon, be sure to check out my sponsor, Little Free Radical. Not only does she carry all of the colors, she also sells it at a great price and her shipping time is crazy fast!
*I heard there’s a 1.5″ width now! While I wouldn’t use it on a card, I would totally use it when I did gift wrapping. Thinking I’ll need to buy a few cards of some in the future to see how it looks!
I’ll be a busy little bee this weekend. I have a contributing post for another blog to put together, a video that needs editing and lots of sample cards to create for an upcoming stamp release. Hoping health stays on my side so I can get everything done! If you think of it, I would welcome prayers!
Have a fabulous weekend, sweet blog friends. I’m sure I’ll chat with some of you on the Pretty Pink Posh Facebook pagelater on today and over the weekend!
If you were inspired by the star projects above, wait until you see what some of the Clearly Besotted DT has created! These gals are all so talented and I cannot wait to see how they did on their first Craft Dash challenge!
eyeshadow can be found 
