My Buddy Valentine

Fhiona and her Buddy (now named Fhinn) are so cute together! Perfect for Valentine's day, don'tcha think? This card was a challenge for me.. not sure why but I struggled to complete it. It took me one night to finish it up, this includes taking breaks inbetween because I had crafter's block. I think the MS heart border punch is what stumped me. Once I punched that out, I had a hard time figuring out what to do with the rest of the card.

Got these flowers from a Prima flower mix- perfect match!

Supplies:

My Buddy stamp- YNS

Heart border punch- Martha Stewart Crafts

Flowers- Prima

Flourish punches- EK Success

Pearl accents- Kaisercrafts

Markers- Copics

Ribbon

Heart die- Spellbinders

Love is Sweet sentiment- Hero Arts

Cardstock- Bazzil

Oopsie!

You must excuse me since I'm still sick and can't think clearly... For those of you on the YNS Blog Hop, here's a bit of clarification... On my original post, I stated you should go to the YNS Challenge blog to enter for the Grand Prize Giveaway... That was WRONG! Please go to Simonne's blog where you will see a Mr. Linky. Add your name and you're done! You can enter again if you posted something on your blog about your favorite Vacation Destination or Rock Band. See Simonne's blog for more details on how to enter. AND.... I also neglected to include that YNS is having a huge sale! You can selected stamps for 25-55% off! What a great deal! Head on over now for best selection as quantities are limited. If you haven't done so already, please check out the YNS blog hop starting at Karen's blog! You won't be sorry- the DT has come up with some really cute samples to share with you. Hope I got it right this time! OK- I'm going back to bed now... please click here for my YNS Blog Hop post!

YNS New Releases and Blog Hop!

Aloha Everyone! Mahalo nui loa (thank you) for joining me in the YNS New Release Blog Hop! This is very exciting for me as I have not participated in any blog hop before! You are probably coming from Lana's blog, but in case you are not starting from the beginning, you should probably go check out Karen's blog first! I was thrilled to find out that 1) I was selected to be a Guest Starlet for YNS, AND 2) YNS came up with a Hawaiian Fhiona and Fhinn (Aloha Fhiona and Surfer Fhinn to be exact). Since I'm from Hawaii, these are definitely one of my favorite designs! I really wanted to make a card using both Aloha Fhiona and Surfer Fhinn, so I decided to try my first Diorama card. This was pretty fun to make and very simple. The hardest part was figuring out where to put everything- not the actual construction of the card... Here's what I came up with... See! Aloha Fhiona is doing the hula while Surfer Fhinn is riding the waves! This project was so fun to put together! I just love how the card gives you so much dimension with the different layers. Here's a close up.... For my next card, I decided to do a traditional card using Aloha Fhiona. It was so awesome to be able to use some of the Hawaiian themed scrapbooking products found locally for this project! Do you like the little gecko? He's one of my favorites! Here's a closer look at Aloha Fhiona... So since I live in Hawaii, many of you might assume that my favorite place to vacation is Hawaii... well, maybe its because I live here and can see it every day, I actually enjoy traveling to non-tropical places. Weird yah? I know... I totally take Hawaii for granted, but whenever I return from a trip, I always appreciate what I have a lot more! So, now that you know that Hawaii is not my favorite vacation destination, you are probably wondering what is? I actually have 2 right now. I LOVE DISNEYLAND! Always have, always will. Now that I have a daughter, this is our favorite destination.. can't wait for my next trip to the Magic Kingdom! My next favorite- only because I can't afford to go again anytime soon, is Italy! My sister lives there and we went for her wedding. It was so beautiful! I can't wait to go and visit there again. Now, if I had a chance to go anywhere in the world, I'd have to go with Japan... I'd be first in line at Tokyo Disneyland! I would also need to check out Puroland (Hello Kitty theme park). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find my Italy pictures in time for this post, so I leave you with my favorite Disneyland picture of Akemi... Thank you so much for stopping by on this blog hop! Your next destination is Angela's blog... so hop on over now to see what she has for you! Don't forget... There are prizes to be won on this blog hop! Here's the prize info:

• Grand Prize: The entire new release (4 stamp sets) will go to one lucky winner!
• How to enter: Go to the YNS Challenges blog and add your name to Mr. Linky.
• If you publish a post on your blog about the blog hop and include a picture and blurb about your favorite vacation destination or rock band, you will be eligible for a 2nd entry into the grand prize!
• Blog Hop will run from 1/21/10 to 1/25/10.

Isn't that awesome! Hope you had fun visiting my blog... don't forget to check out the other YNS Starlet's blogs for other cool creations!

YNS Challenge #8- Anything that Sparkles!

Time for another YNS Challenge! This challenge is to include something on your project that sparkles! That's my kind of challenge! I chose Fairy Fhiona (again) because I love the look of glittered wings on fairies. Makes them look more magical!

As you can see... I'm still on my Valentine's kick. Here's a closer look at Fairy Fhiona... Isn't she cute? Go check out the other samples made by the DT (here) and bust out that glitter and bling so you can enter the contest too!

Did you go sign up for the blinkie contest yet? There may still be time left, so go get your blinkie and leave a comment right now if you haven't already done so! You may just be the lucky winner of all 4 new releases! These new releases are soooo cute, you will want to get your hands on them when you see them.

Speaking of new releases... don't forget to join us for the new release Blog Hop tomorrow (1/21)! This is my first blog hop and I'm so very excited!! So stop by tomorrow to see all the fun.

Did you sign up for the YNS Fan Club at SNR Universe? If not, you can sign up here... then join our group here...

Supplies:

Fairy Fhiona- YNS

Heart handled bag- Sizzix

Flowers- Prima

Cardstock- Bazzil

Stickles

Marker- Copics

Heart die- Spellbinders

Love ya stamp- Hero Arts

Your Next Stamp Blinkie Contest!

Hi Everyone! Just found out that YNS is holding a Blinkie Contest! Check it out here to get your blinkie and enter the contest.

• Blinkie contest will run from 1/11/10 to 1/20/10 (ends midnight ET).
• You will have 2 oppotunities to win! 1) Post this blinkie on your blog and then leave a comment that you have done so on the YNS blog post where you got the blinkie from and 2) In addition to #1, post a photo and a short blurb about your favorite vacation destination and/or favorite rock band.
• Winner of the blinkie contest will be done by random drawing. The prize is a stamp set of your choice!!! How awesome is that?

Don't just sit there... go get your blinkie! :)

YNS Guest Designer and A Challenge!

Hi Everyone! I'm so excited to share that I've been asked to be a Guest Designer for Your Next Stamp for the month of January!! Woo Hoo! YNS Challenge #7 starts today and runs through midnight on January 19th. Maylee is the host for this challenge... don't worry, its an easy one! Just need to do any type of embossing on your project! Since I'm on a Valentine's day roll, I decied to use my heart embossing folder. I love this foil cardstock I found and thought it would be pretty embossed. Love how it came out! So easy to do but very dramatic! Here's the link to the YNS Challenge blog... It has all of the information on the challenge, so go check it out now! Here's what you can win..

• Winner – one lucky winner, chosen by random.org, will win $10 in YNS Stamp Bucks (to spend on YNS stamps) and the Winner Blinkie to proudly display on their blog.
• Top Pick – one lucky entry, chosen by Maylee, will win $5 in YNS Stamp Bucks (to spend on YNS stamps) and the Top Pick Blinkie to proudly display on their blog! [ You must use a YNS stamp on your creation to be eligible to win the Top Pick prize].

Here's a close up of Fairy Fhiona- she's my favorite... I thought she might pass for Cupid, so I gave her a heart. Supplies: Fairy Fhiona- YNS Cardstock- American Crafts Ribbon Stickles Smooch Markers- Copics Be My Valentine sentiment- Hero Arts

IS Holiday Card Drawing

Since swaps can be sometimes stressful to make a lot of the same card, we decided to do a different take on a one card swap... that way everyone doesn't get stressed making 20 million of the same card (ok, so I exaggerate). Anyway, at the last Craft Night, we had another Card Drawing, where participants brought in a card, and we numbered them and then pulled numbers to see which card we "won". Here's the card I entered...

I used Skating Fun Fhiona for my card. I think she's so sweet. Because I don't have a lot of time this month, all my cards are very simple- no moving parts or other surprises. I decided to use my snow dots embossing folder for the background to simulate a snowy effect without too much print. I just love how it looks on bling cardstock!

Here's a close up of Fhiona. Isn't she a cutie?

So it turns out Michele got my card! I pulled Tracy's card! I promise- we didn't plan it that way! Sorry, I didn't take a photo of Tracy's card, but its a very cute Gingerbread man (new Sizzix die)!

Supplies:

Skating fun Fhiona- YNS

Markers- Copics

Cardstock- Bazzil

Snow Dots embossing folder- Cuttlebug

Labels die- Spellbinders

Holly punch- MS Crafts

Stickles

YNS Challenge #5

Hi Everyone,

Just saw the specs for the next YNS Challenge (#5)... a Happy Birthday card using hearts. You don't have to use a YNS stamp, but if you do, you will be entered twice in their random drawing! Lucky me, I already made a card using hearts! Yay! Here's my entry...

Here's the part with the hearts!

Deadline to enter is December 15th!

Just Swinging By...

Happy Monday! Hope you had a good weekend. I have been a kit making machine lately. Didn't realize I had 2 classes scheduled for this week! Had to re-work one of the projects since the paper I needed didn't come in yet... It worked out though- I think it looks just as good.

So inbetween cutting kits, I managed to make this monkey card. Isn't he cute? He's from Your Next Stamp. Akemi's a monkey, so I thought I could always use it. I totally had a mission in mind when I bought him... I had to make him swing somehow!

So I used the same technique as I did with the Pink Cat swinging Lilly fairy stamp. I just cut out the monkey and used a brad to secure him to the card- which also allows the swinging motion. See how he swings from right to left?

Oops- forgot to show you the senitment inside... it says "Hi". Sorry!

Supplies:

Monkey stamp- YNS

Just Swinging By sentiment- printed from computer

DP- Bo Bunny

Cardstock- Bazzil

Markers- Copics

Brad- Doodlebug

oval and scallop oval dies- Spellbinders

Have a great week!

YNS Card Mingle- Fairy Fhiona

When the YNS Yahoo Group first started up, there was a sign up to participate in a Card Mingle, so I decided to join in the fun. I posted the card I made for Ryann earlier, but here's the card I got from Amy. Amy's on the YNS Design Team.. cute design yah? I love the little accents she put under Fairy Fhiona. Thanks Amy!

Speaking of card swaps, Island Scrapbooking is hosting a Card Drawing (similar to a one card swap), where you visit the store on 11/6 for Craft Night, bring a handmade card, and we'll draw numbers to see who goes home with which card! Sound like fun? Hope you can join us that night starting at 5pm.

I'll be posting my OCS hosted by Teri soon. My partner was Michelle of Mushi's Creative Inspiration. I got her card already, but only sent out her card today! You should be getting it soon Michelle! Thanks for being so patient.

Are You Sick Of This One Yet?

Yes, I like this Fhiona stamp for the penny spinner card. I like it so much that I've done this same design several times now! Anyway, since the penny spinner card is pretty simple, I decided to teach this card to my club. They were thrilled to learn this technique! Pictured here are the samples I made (one as the sample, one as the demo).

OK- I promise... no more of this card to be posted, even if I made 100 more! LOL!

Supplies:

Yippee Fhiona- Your Next Stamp

Happy Birthday sentiment- Sizzix

Word window punch- Stampin Up

DP- Doodlebug, American Crafts

Pop dots

Pennies

Copic markers

Your Next Stamp Card Mingle

I'm definitely getting braver when it comes to swaps... Last month, I participated in my first one card swap, hosted by Teri. I guess it helps that the swaps I sign up for are not for mass producing the same card, I really like these one card swaps where you can spend more time on a card, rather than rush it and do a crappy job.

Here's the card I came up with for the Your Next Stamp's Card Mingle. Its the same as a one card swap. I was paired up with Ryann , who is actually a Design Team member for YNS. How intimidating! Well, I gave it a shot and here's what I came up with...

Its Trick or Treat Fhiona! And who does she have with her? Is it a ghost, or is it a balloon?

Here's a close up...

Even took the time to stamp on the inside!

Supplies:

Cardstock- Bazzil

Trick or Treat Fhiona, ghost, pumpkin and Happy Halloween- YNS

Boo sentiment- Hero Arts

Spiderweb embossing folder- Cuttlebug

Flourish punch- Paper shapers

Circle & scallop circle- spellbinders, circle punch

Glitter paper- Doodlebug designs

Markers- Copics

Hope you like it Ryann!

Fhiona Witch Shaker

Are you sick of Halloween stuff yet? I'm not, its just the beginning baby! Anyway, wanted to ink up my Fhiona Witch stamp from Your Next Stamps. Since I also bought some Halloween dew drops, thought I'd use them before its too late, so I decided to make a Halloween Shaker Card. Haven't made one in awhile and it shows...I really struggled with it. Guess I need to practice more on shaker boxes.

Here's a close up so you can see how cute Fhiona is!

Supplies:

Fhiona Witch- Your Next Stamp

Dew Drops- Robin's Nest

Spiderweb punch- Martha Stewart

Stickles

Boo sentiment- Hero Arts

Circle punches- Marvy

Flying High Fhiona

Doesn't everyone love balloons? I always did as a child and my daughter is the same. When I saw this set by Your Next Stamp, I knew I had to have it and exactly what card I would make with it!

Hmmm... who's that peeking from behind the flowers???

Its Flying High Fhiona!

Here's a close up...

Supplies:

Flying High Fhiona Stamp- Your Next Stamp

Markers- Copics

Flowers die- Sizzix

Hello stamp- Hero Arts

Thanks stamp- Hero Arts

DP- Doodlebug

I wanted to thank a new friend, so I made this card for her... Hope she likes it!

My First One Card Swap!

Hi Everyone! Well, I did it! I finally got enough nerve to participate in Teri's One Card Swap! I've seen many fellow bloggers talk about how fun it is, but I've always been insecure about my work and didn't think my stuff was as nice as theirs. I'm glad I finally got up enough nerve to participate this month and am glad I finally took the plunge! This is the card I made for my partner, Vina... I hope she likes it. I know, I used this same design already, but I really like it! I think Yippee Fhiona is the perfect stamp for a penny spinner card, so I couldn't resist and made another one. You can't really tell from the photos, but I added crystals to a lot of the flowers and dots on the DP. So don't be shy like me, Teri will be opening up the one card swap sign ups again soon, so visit her blog to sign up for October! Who knows... maybe you'll be partners with me! :) Supplies: Fhiona Stamp- Your Next Stamp Markers- Copics Cardstock- Bazzil DP- Bo Bunny Crystals- Hero Arts Yippee sentiment- cut from The Blocky Bunch die- Sizzix.

Trick Or Treat!

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a nice weekend. Here's another card I created yesterday with my new stamp set from Your Next Stamp. The set actually comes with a pumpkin, bats and a candy stamp too! This little pumpkin is all ready to go trick or treating- I just love Fhiona!

Supplies used:

Fhiona and trick or treat stamp- Your Next Stamp

Oval and scallop oval dies- spellbinders

Flowers- Prima

Stickles

DP- SU and Doodlebug

Markers- Copics

Arch border punch- Martha Stewart

Relax!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend! I was pretty exhausted after yesterday's huge sale at Island Scrapbooking, so I spent most of today just relaxing and crafting... I wanted to play with my new Your Next Stamps that came in on Friday!!! Did I mention that I love these stamps?

So, since this was a relaxing day for me, I decided to use the Bubbly Fun Fhiona, since she knows how to relax! Ok, so I didn't have a bubble bath... you wouldn't either if you knew that there was a very large cockroach on the ceiling in your bathroom watching you take a shower! I swear he was watching me... they always seem to wait till I'm naked and vulnerable. Need to send out a big thank you to my husband, the cockroach killer, who saved me. In case you haven't realized it by now, I'm DEATHLY afraid of roaches, especially flying ones!

Sorry, went totally off the subject there, but had to vent. Back to Fhiona... I just love the bubbles in her bath, so I wanted them to look like real bubbles. I decided to use my pearly dew drops for the larger bubbles and my liquid pearls for the smaller ones. I actually added more pearls on the tub. I also tried out the technique used in the Copics class I took at Photocraft on the tub. Used a very light blue to give it some dimension, it came out better than I thought it was going to.

This Fhiona set comes with a rubber ducky, champagne glass, more bubbles and a few sentiments, including the "relax". Maybe it should have included a can of Raid! LOL!

Supplies used:

Fhiona stamp set- Your Next Stamp

Markers- Copics

DP- Reminisce

Cardstock- Bazzil

Dew Drops- The Robin's Nest

Flowers- Prima

Lace border punch- Martha Stewart

Happy, Happy, Birthday Fhiona Spinner

Greetings Everyone! I'm so happy its Thursday... that means only one more day of work! Even though this was a short week, it sure is dragging...

Anyway, just wanted to share my first spinner card with you! I can't believe I have never made this before! This is so much fun to make.... now I gotta go penny hunting so I can make more.

I had to come up with a card for this weekend. My daughter got invited to a birthday party for her BFF's older sis who is about 12... I really don't know what tweens are into now days, so I'm hoping she likes this card. Forget about guessing about a gift, we are giving money!

Anyway, isn't this Fhiona the perfect image for a spinner? I feel like she was made to do cartwheels!

YIPPEE!!!

Here's the inside...

And here's a close up of Fhiona- I love creating with her... she makes me happy.

Supplies used:

Fhiona stamp- Your Next Stamp DP- Bo Bunny Cardstock- Bazzil Markers- Copics Stickles Pennies Pop Dots Happy Birthday sentiment- Sizzix

Fhiona Mermaid

Did I mention that I love Your Next Stamp? Here's the other stamp set I picked up. I can't wait for my next order to arrive! This was the stamp set that forced me to place my order. There's something about this cute girl when she smiles with her eyes closed! I also love that the set came with her friends the crab and starfish. I made this card to send to my cousin Laura, who wanted to try out EZ mount. Since I was sending her the EZ mount, I decided to throw in this card. Hope she likes it! Supplies used: Fhiona Mermaid- Your Next Stamp Starfish and Crab stamps- Your Next Stamp Markers- Copics Crystals- Hero Arts DP- DCWV Border punch- Martha Stewart

Yippee!

My new favorite stamp company has got to be Your Next Stamp! These little Fihona stamps are just my style! As soon as I got the stamps in the mail, I had to mount them and try them out. The other great thing about them is that they are a good size and great for using my Copics! Yippee!

I had wanted to thank Enjoli for sending me that unreal blog candy! So although this card says "Yippee", its actually a thank you card. Hope she likes it!

Supplies used:

Fhiona stamp- Your Next Stamp

Yippee stamp- Your Next Stamp

Markers- Copics

DP (cut out design)- Doodlebug

Crystals- Hero Arts

Cardstock- Bazzil