I hope that you all had a great weekend. We had two glorious, sunny days here in Washington, which was just what I needed. The little bit of sunshine peeking through the windows while I was crafting was so wonderful. It’s amazing how sunshine can change ones mood and outlook after some gloomy days!
I posted on the Pretty Pink Posh Facebook page that I ordered lots and lots of sequins recently. I got them in, along with some Lawn Fawn goodies, so I did a mini haul video. {Thank you to everyone who has requested I continue to film them!} Here is the super quick little video.
I was so excited to play with my new goodies- I actually created five cards with sequins this weekend! I am so into my new purchases, I just couldn’t stop using them! With St. Patrick’s Day being a few days away, I thought I’d share a card for this holiday.
I used three different colored Neat & Tangled sequins on this card: Crystal Clear, Shamrock Satin and Gold Metallic.If you order, be sure to let Danielle know that I sent you over! :)
If you missed yesterday’s blog hop post, be sure to check it out- we’re giving away bigger gift certificates and the hop was FILLED with lots of amazing birthday inspiration. Thanks so much for stopping in!
It’s time for the monthly DeNami Blog Hop and since it’s our birthday month, I thought it fitting to make it a birthday blog hop! There are so many different ways this theme can be used- I just know that this hop will be filled to the brim with inspiration! If you started from the beginning, you should be coming from Pattie Goldman’s blog.
Be sure to leave comments on each stop. We’re giving away BIGGER gift certificates in honor of the birthday month, which means bigger shopping sprees!
I went the cutesy route and decided to bring out the Cupcake Chickie as my focal point. I have loved this stamp from the first moment I saw it and can’t believe I haven’t used it for so long. Since this is a special hop, I wanted to do something “out of the norm” and made a cupcake topper, too. {I actually made three and took a picture, but the lighting turned out horrible}
I kept this card design super basic because I wanted the chickie to the take the spotlight. Only three stamps were used on this card {supply list below}.
It’s time to head on over to the next stop of the hop: Lisa Petrella’s blog! I have the incredible privilege of working closely with her as a DT member and she is phenomenal. Not only that, she always has the most creative ideas!
I’ll be back tomorrow for a small haul video and a card featuring what I created with my new goodies. If you’re wondering, yes, sequins will be making an appearance! Hope to see you then!
NOT LISTED: pink, green & turquoise cardstock, paper straw, chevron ribbon
For my long-time readers, you know that I enjoy doing giveaways. With a limited budget, I’m not able to do them too often….however, occasionally a company will reach out to me and want to host one on my blog. Today is one of those special days!
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I am absolutely LOVING the Paper Sweeties line that was started by my sweet friend, Debbie. She has designed the most adorable line of dolls, outfits and accessories that can bring old and young together seamlessly. Here’s a little bit more about the company….
Paper Sweeties™ LLC is owned and illustrated by Debbie Marcinkiewicz, and offers hand drawn, high quality photopolymer acrylic stamps. Our heartwarming images allow paper crafters to create adorable dolls with interchangeable outfits and accessories! We also have a wide variety of wonderful all-occasion sentiments, labels and accessory sets – perfect for every paper crafted project! The Paper Sweeties shoppe carries hand tea-stained seam binding too! The Sweeties dolls, accessories and sentiments are so much fun to play with, and are sure to bring back fond childhood memories! You’ll enjoy using the Sweeties to create projects for card making, scrap booking, party invitations and favors, home decor and so much more!
We will be attending our very first show, CKC Scrapbook Convention in Charlotte, NC August 16th – 17th as a vendor! We hope to see you there!
Before I give you the details of the giveaway, I wanted to show you another card I created with these stamps. This card features Abigail, Dream A Little Dream, I’m Having A Tea Party and of course, lots of patterned papers.
Okay, now onto the information on how you can win a $25 Paper Sweeties gift certificate!
That is FIVE possible entries! Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
I can’t wait to read what your favorite Paper Sweeties sets are and also hopefully see some new social media friends! I know that Debbie would love to meet some of my amazing readers too- be sure to stop by and say hello to her. :)
I’ve recently professed that I am IN. LOVE. with patterned papers. My stash is growing with each Ellen Hutsonorder and boy, lately I’ve been using it up like there’s no tomorrow. I suppose it’s better than hoarding though!
Today I am showcasing a sweet little girl that I was introduced to recently. My friend, Debbie, started a stamp company called Paper Sweeties in August 2012 and she has the most adorable little girls (and boys), along with all sorts of outfits that you can adorn them with. As soon as I saw these cute designs, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on them. Growing up, I was more of a Barbie girl rather than paper dolls, so getting the opportunity to stamp/ color/ dress up and “play” with these stamps were so fun. Honestly, it was like I was a little girl again….
I will admit, once I started paper piecing, I couldn’t stop. I kept pulling out more paper packs and seeing which designs went together and what stamps I could paper piece. It was so therapeutic- I did this back-to-back on three cards!
I’m hoping you all are excited about these stamps as I am….stay tuned tomorrow because I will have a GIVEAWAY so you can get some of your own adorable Paper Sweeties stamps!
In the meantime, if you haven’t checked out the latest 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge, it was posted yesterday! We have an awesome sponsor and some of their DT joined along with some fabulous cards. I can’t wait to start seeing all of YOUR creations!
See you all tomorrow. Thanks for spending some time with me.
I’m thrilled that you have joined me and the design team for a brand new 10 Minute Craft Dash. Can you believe we are on challenge #13 already? My have the weeks flown by quickly!
With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, I thought we would pay homage to those colors and go a little more neutral for this challenge. Don’t worry though, you can create ANY occasion card using these colors!
* 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 might still be featured in the favorites!
Today we have a first time sponsor, but I’m sure it’s one you recognize- May Arts! They have a huge array of stunning ribbons in a rainbow of colors. Not to mention the variety of textures and the different widths! I’m so glad that some of their DT was able to bring you some inspiration today, here are the links to their blogs:
Oh yes, and let’s not forget about our prize for this challenge. May Arts has donated a goodie bag filled with all sorts of ribbon samples- every crafters dream!
How to Play
Create a card/craft project within 10 minutes featuring the color palette.
Post the time it took to create.
Be sure to include the challenge graphic in your post and link to the challenge.
You may combine a total of three challenges with your entry. You may enter the challenge a maximum of two times.
This last round of challenge entries were so amazing and I LOVED seeing all of the different videos that were posted showing you (and your friends) create. My absolute favorite of all the videos posted thus far? THIS ONE posted by Jessica, Jen and Suzanne. Thank you girls for allowing us to join in your crafty night! :)
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!
Thanks to the help of my bestie, I was able to pick a winner and some favorites from this challenge….goodness knows I could never make this decision alone!
Congratulations to Chupa
Please email me (click the contact on the top right) with your contact info to claim your prize. Also, you get to grab the badge below and proudly display it on your blog!
Ready for some of my favorites? If you’re new to the Craft Dash, I always pick out some entries to showcase and share with you. There are so many amazing entries and I can’t help but shout out some of them. Here are the links to the gals I picked this time around….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!}
Thank you for joining me today and continuing to spreading the word of my challenge. If you want to share you love of the 10 Minute Craft Dash, feel free to add the challenge button to your blog. I can’t wait to start seeing more badges in blog land soon!
I will see you all tomorrow for a brand new challenge and a prize from a first-time sponsor. The design team has put together some beautiful, inspiring cards and I can’t wait to share them with you all!
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.
Today’s blogger is a fellow Washingtonian and craft lover, she also has an adorable Etsy shop and a heart of gold. I had the privilege of meeting Erika at the Etsy Rain show {post here} and since then I’ve been following her blog and other social media sites. Her blog encompasses the things she enjoys, who she is and randomness that makes her even more loveable.
Let’s get started with the questions….
Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
This is actually my second blog. I had a now-defunct blog that I started in fall of 2009, after the husband and I got married. I got tired of posting just married-life related stuff, so that’s when I switched over to a new name and new content in early 2011.
What inspires you for your posts?
I started the blog because I was in really creatively frustrated at work (I’ve since changed day jobs) and worked nights, which turns out, can make you lonely and bored during the day! Writing a blog was a perfect filler.
Do you ever find it hard to come up with blog content?
I actually very rarely have a hard time coming up with blog content. I commute by bus every day and it’s about a half hour ride so I use a lot of that time brainstorming and thinking up new stuff. I also sort of plan out my month of content so I’ll always sort of know what’s coming or what I should write about.
Are there particular posts that you enjoy doing more than others?
Inspiration comes in many forms for me. I get a lot of crazy ideas lying in bed at night, while running or on my bus commute home from work. I try not to get too inspired from other bloggers because I want to be original as I can. I find inspiration in what I wear, what I cook, what I see and what my husband tells me.
Do you keep a blog schedule, or do you post whenever you’re inspired?
Regarding the schedule, I have a rough schedule but if I decide I don’t like a post, or I have a great idea, I’ll go with the inspiration. This year I’ve also released a lot of pressure from blogging everyday because I do work full time, I do have a full life, and sometimes I can’t write a new post 5 times a week.
Okay, now onto some fun questions that are non-relevant to blogging…..
How would you describe your personality?
My personality is a little bit out there– definitely creative-minded, caring and sensitive. I am very shy around people I know, but open up with people I know. I am also someone who RARELY sits still. Ever. Unless I’m asleep at night.
What do you enjoy doing in your “spare time”?
Spare time? Haha. Well I do own a handmade shop called rouge + whimsy with my line of purses, totes and clutches so that takes up a lot of time, but otherwise I love to cook and try new recipes. I also run, play with my dog and work on my house with my husband.
If you could meet any celebrity, who would it be and why?
If I could meet any celebrity, I would have to see Ellen DeGeneres, because it would meant that I was on her show and she was talking about my blog…haha. Otherwise, I love Tina Fey. She’s brilliant.
If you had a reality tv show about your life, what would we see a lot of?
A reality show about my life would be a lot of me running around being late to things, scrambling on things… also a lot of me laughing, snoozing my alarm and drinking coffee. You’d probably spy my corgi a lot too, because he’s a ham. :)
Name 5 things that you are most passionate about:
My faith in Jesus, my family, handmade/ blog community, eating healthy and loving others.
Now that you see what a sweet and fun gal Erika is, I’m sure you want to follow her too! Here’s where you can find her:
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’ll see you tomorrow for the 10 Minute Craft Dash #12 Highlights and info on how you can get an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming challenge that starts on Wednesday.
One of the most gratifying things as a blogger is hearing and seeing that people try out the things you post, recreate it and then spread the word about your blog. THANK YOU for sharing my site with your friends and family, sweet readers. As the blog readership grows and the opportunities for my site expands, I’m hoping I can continue to bring you inspiring cards and projects, recipes, thought provoking posts, along with giveaways and coupons. Hope that sounds good to all of you! *wink*
With Spring right around the corner, I have been obsessed with the fresh and cheery colors on the horizon. I decided to put together some of my favorite colors on this card and the result is something that makes me long for Spring even more. Polka dots, glitter and some of my new May Arts ribbon and you have a combination that is swoon worthy.
How lovely are these butterflies and the sentiment? I honestly can’t stop using this sentiment- it encapsulates my feelings for so many of my close friends and family. Also, isn’t the handwriting amazing? LOVE it to pieces!
What stamp or crafting item are you obsessed with at the moment? Along with this sentiment, I have a few others that I can’t seem to put down. I’ll share them with you soon- hopefully in video form!
It has been a while since I’ve posted a guest post! What I am sharing today is a favorite between Paulina and I that we can eat day or night, hot or cold. It is more of a “sunny day” dish, but definitely still enjoyable in times when the sun is in dire need of showing itself.
I absolutely love this dish and am happy to say that I eat it all the time. It’s easy to make, doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and tasty!
Cilantro Lime Shrimp
Recipe Type: Entree
Author: Krista Nakamura
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Ingredients
1/2 lime
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 cup picked cilantro
3 T minced garlic
1 pound Shrimp, peeled and uncooked
Salt
Pepper
Instructions
Heat wok on high heat. Add half of the Olive Oil and Garlic.
Add shrimp and cook on medium heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Chop up cilantro until desired size, mix with shrimp.
Once shrimp is opaque in color, squeeze in the juice of the lime. Turn heat off and add the rest of the olive oil for an even coat. Finish and serve.
3.2.1337
Heat wok on high heat. Add half of the Olive Oil and Garlic.
Add shrimp and cook on medium heat. Season with salt and pepper.
Chop up cilantro until desired size, mix with shrimp.
Once shrimp is opaque in color, squeeze in the juice of the lime. Turn heat off and add the rest of the olive oil for an even coat. Finish and serve.
I have just flipped to a new chapter in life by moving to San Francisco this past week. I’ll be working in a kitchen here and will be playing with local ingredients and playing with new recipes. I hope that you won’t mind a few new and exciting ingredients that I will have in future posts! The beauty of the internet, I can still contribute from a different location!
Thank you so much for reading. I hope that some of you will try out this recipe. If you do, be sure to let me know! Also, if you want to see specific recipes (appetizers, entrees, desserts), I want to hear that too. Enjoy!
Whew, I barely was able to fit this post in this month! It’s amazing how packed my blog calendar can fill up these days. It’s time for my monthly Random Loves post and this one definitely lives up to its name, on all levels. Each of these products are things I’m loving at the moment and well, they’re pretty random.
If you have followed my blog, you know that each month I host a Random Loves post here on the blog. These posts are filled with random items I’m loving that month. It’s been so much fun to see YOUR lists over these months and check out the items you are listing. I’ve been introduced to many new things thanks to your suggestions!
I’m excited to show you what I have listed, so let’s jump right into the post.
It’s a guarantee that I’ll have some sort of lip product in my purse at any given time. If I’m being honest, it’s not uncommon for there to be 4-7 different products that can be used on my lips shuffling around in my purse. With the cold weather, my current favorite are the eos lip balms. They are so cute and they smell divine, too!
It’s no secret that my love of mugs is continuing to grow, thanks to my friend Victoria at Re.Served. She just listed this new design {as of yesterday} and I am in mug love! How pretty is this color, the adorable trees and those birds? This design is definitely one of my favorites of hers and I can’t wait to get one for myself soon!
Back in November, I was so blessed to have the amazing Jenny Simmons as my Featured Blogger. You all got a peek at her heart, her passions and some of you were able to even win her single! Her very first solo cd released at the beginning of the month and I am loving it to pieces. {I’ll do a post on a particular song that stuck out to me soon} If you’re looking for a powerful Christian cd, this one is a great one.
I’ve always enjoyed stamping my own patterned papers, but recently, I have been obsessed with paper packs. Specifically 6 x 6 paper packs. There are so many new ones coming out- I just ordered three more {this being one of them}. The colors, patterns and unique style on these papers grabbed me instantly and I can’t wait to receive it!
I’ve been a MAC girl for as long as I can remember. Recently, I decided to try a drug store foundation, since my make-up costs weren’t something I was proud of. After contemplating all of the different brands {goodness, there are so many}, I decided to go with the Revlon Photoready foundation. I must say, the color, look and feel is amazing. In fact, I think I like the coverage even more than my old MAC one! On top of that, it’s only 1/3 the cost!
What are a few of YOUR favorite things at the moment? It can be drinks, shows, clothing, movies, etc…. it just might introduce me (and others) to some new things! I can’t wait to see your lists!
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.
Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
This is actually my second blog. I had a now-defunct blog that I started in fall of 2009, after the husband and I got married. I got tired of posting just married-life related stuff, so that’s when I switched over to a new name and new content in early 2011.
