Inspirational Thoughts Blog Hop

Welcome to the Inspirational Thoughts Blog Hop

 

It's Springtime and Easter time and what better way to celebrate this Season than with an Inspirational Thoughts Blog Hop. We hope that our projects will enlighten you and bring you all peace and blessings for a wonderful day!

You should have come from BETH but in case you didn't,

Connie Can Crop is the first stop on this Blog Hop.
This is a one day blog hop and we appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these talented friends who are here sharing their ideas and creations. 

We have an awesome sponsor and giveaway for this hop!

 Pinque Peacock
Is giving away a

 Check out their store here:
https://www.facebook.com/PinquePeacock

So what do you need to do to win? Easy... become  a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop and leave each of them a comment letting them know what you like best about their projects. Then stop by our sponsor's page at be sure to like her on facebook!! 

You will have until 12:00 am Monday to finish the hop and leave your comments. 

Winners will be announced on Wednesday at Connie Can Crop.

Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment  along the way!

Here are my projects I have to share with you today. Sit back with a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and get ready for 7 pictures! You're gonna love them all! I started off with this Baby Girl card template that I found off Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/pin/185914290840537205/) the website on the pin doesn't work, but it is on Pinterest!

Here is my card that I made for my step-cousin, Amanda, that has a little girl, Braelynn due in June!

The paper is DCWV Multi Dots Nana's Kids Print that I found at JoAnn's. The ribbon top is 3 Girl JAM (http://www.3girljam.com)  Pink and White Bundle- Cherry Lipstick and Antique White- I wanted to cover up my fold markings that I drew and then felt like it needed a bow to finish it off! The sweet circle directly under the bow, I fussy cut from a piece of baby PP that Sandi gave me as a RAK. I then added a pink strip of My Mind's Eye (MME) Happier 6x6 Designer Paper Pad so that you can't see the polka dots through the Recollections Baby Rattle sash! The Little Lady Sticker is from Momenta ATD Super Sticker Pack that I found at TJMaxx (TJM) and the MME pad is also from TJM. The rick rack ribbon is Martha Stewart Crafts given to me by Mrs.Gloria before she moved to VA. Then I added a strip of Recollections Butterfly Wings 4.5x6.5 collection for the diaper cover- found at Michaels- and used Martha Stewart Crafts Brights Punch Pad- the non-patterned sides- that I also found at TJM (it pays to work there ;))- to punch the 3 teddy bears with my small Teddy Bear punch that I believe I found at Big Lots- let's just say it's been in my stash awhile and I forgot where I bought it! Now for the inside!

The PP is MME Bella Bella by Carina Gardner- another TJM find I keep my eye on scrap supplies coming in and out! The so precious sticker is Recollections Baby Collection found at Michaels (both TJM and Michaels are in the mall in New Bern). The butterfly I fussycut out of a piece of baby Colorbok Flavia Sweet Baby PP that Sandi also gave me in the same RAK! The bird strip is Fiskars Heidi Grace Designs Flocked Cardstock Baby Girl Birds PP that I found at Big Lots in an assorted PP set, but can also be found at http://www.heidigrace.com! It was made in 2007 so it might still be available for purchase! The stamp- Begin Anywhere Just Begin- is Mary Engelbreit or ME*E*Inc.- a $1 find at Michaels. This is the first time using it! I bought it a few weeks ago and thought it would go perfect in this baby card, I've just been waiting for the best time to use it and voila! :)

this is a close-up of the sticker and the birds

this is the back of the card and my signature stamp- Hero Arts Handmade from the Heart- that I found from JoAnn's Arts & Crafts store in Raleigh. I forgot to mention that I used VersaFine Onyx Black Pigment Ink on both stamps. It's the best ink I've found for fine details and works for me! Now for 2 cotton bags that I won from 3 Girl JAM!!

I used Unity Stamp Company (http://www.theunitystampco.blogspot.com) May 2013 KOTM Totally and Utterly Amazing on both of these cotton bags. Unity had a sale on all their previous KOTMs so I decided to grab this one! I mainly grabbed it because I heard the song, "Don't Stop Believing" in January right after my dad's surgery and knew that was a sign that everything was going to be ok- Don't stop believing is a stamp in this set. I used it on a card a few posts down with a butterfly from the same KOTM. This kit has a whole sheet of stamps! I haven't used them all yet, but will! I'm just waiting to use them! I've been playing with them this week to just read them since some have fine print on them. I don't know if you can see the fine print on the strawberry, but it has "berry sweet" in fine print on it. I used VersaFine Onyx Black Pigment Ink on both stamps again. I plan to sell this bag and the next bag this spring. Both of these stamps set so well on the bag that I didn't want to add any color. I love the vintage feel of this one!

The clock/compass stamp didn't stamp that great on this one so I added Stickles Golden Rod and Silver to this one. I decided to add Stickles Burgundy and Silver to the heart just to give it some color! I used VersaFine again on these stamps. These are also from the same Unity KOTM. That's all I have for you today. I hope you enjoy the rest of the hop!

 Up next is SHAWNEE

I'm sure she has something lovely in store for you!

Here is our complete line up in case you get lost along the way.

1. Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
2. Sandy- http://aworkingmomsjoy.blogspot.com
3. Alicia- http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
4. Beth - http://thecraftyscrapyard.blogspot.com

5. Amanda- http://salnclts76.blogspot.com --> YOU ARE HERE!
6. Shawnee- http://sunshinycards.blogspot.com
7. Sharon - http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
8. Sarah - www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
9. Michele - http://michelescraftroom.blogspot.com
10. Lori- http://Scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com

Be sure to leave everyone a comment to be entered to win!!

Easter Easel Card

I don't remember where I found the template to make easel cards, but this is my second one I've made. I love them!! I have made a pattern to go by so that I can make more of them and glad I did! I made this one a little different from the last one. I made one for Valentine's Day and decided to make one for Easter. The April paper is MAMBI Spring 12x12 kit.The jelly beans stickerand the bunnies in the grass-that I fussy cut- are The Paper Studio Easter Cardstock Stickers. The butterfly is from my stash- most likely Sticko- but I have lost the original packaging. I buy a lot of Sticko stickers! 

 This is the inside on the other side of the top flap. I attached a Easter post-it, but there's not any sticky, so I had to glue it down with Elmer's glue stick. The Some bunny Loves Me is a stamp I borrowed from Debi at my crop this past Friday night and used my Versafine Onyx Black Fine Pigment Ink pad. The inside patterned paper is Close To My Heart Balloon Ride Sorbet double-sided paper. The purple paper is Recollections Butterfly Wings 4.5x6.5" that I cut down to get the right measurements. The CTMH PP is  8 1/2 x 4 1/4" and the Recollections purple paper is 4.50 x (about a hair over) 4.50 and the MAMBI paper is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4". Here's a link to a Splitcoaststampers tutorial: http://youtu.be/7QPHOkRukeQ - this is the tutorial I watched to learn how to make an easel card. I didn't use a ScorPal or some of the things she used since I don't have a ScorPal, but I still got the same design. I had to put some stronger paper behind the MAMBI paper so I centered it on the Recollections paper. The next picture shows a close-up of the eggs and washi tape.

The eggs are The Paper Studio Stickabilities Easter Collection. The washi tape is Oriental Trading Company Pastel Patterned Washi Tape Set. I used 3 strips so that the top would rest on the between the green polka dot strip and the pink diagonal strip. I placed a 4 1/2 x 1 3/4 piece of the Recollections paper at the bottom of the CTMH PP so it matches the front of the card. I'll write a note in the card later if I decide to give it away. TFL and please come back this Saturday, April 12 for an Inspirational Thoughts Blog Hop that I participating in! It's gonna be fun, Pinque Peacock (https://www.facebook.com/PinquePeacock) is sponsoring the hop with a giveaway!! It's gonna be fun! :)

Believe in Yourself

I made this card for the current challenge with My Besties Challenge Blog(http://bestieschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/03/spring-challenge.html). The requirements are to use a Besties digi stamp or any Besties image so I have used a digi stamp image and to make a spring project. I have made a very springy card! I chose img872 Besties Valentine Digi Stamp and used several colors to color her: Chromatix Grape 1 & 3, Copic Sketch Too 100 Black (to outline & eye lashes), Gelly Roll Clear Stars (on flowers), Sharpie 80s Glam- Argyle Green, Jellie Pink, Banana Clip Yellow, & Leg Warmer Orange, Creative Memories Cocoa, Martha Stewart Crafts Blossom Colors Pink Flamingo, Inc. Starlightz Orange Glitter Gel Pen, Sharpie Magenta, various Rose Art colors, and ZIG Memory System Azure/Carolina Blue!

 The paper is Colorbok Spring Morning Pattern Pack. The ribbon is American Crafts Premium Ribbon. The sentiment "believe in yourself" is My Mind's Eye Sweet Heart Glitter Stickers. The butterfly brad is K&Company and the fleur de leis brad is KI Memories Paisley Parade Epoxy Fasteners. The bling is from my stash. The butterfly sticker is Sticko. The flower sticker is Recollections Kids Sticker Book.

Now for the inside spread. The paper is Best Occasions Jewel Punch Out Pack. The sticker combo on the left is My Mind's Eye. The sentiment "live love laugh" is Studio 18 Terrain 6x6 Paper Pack. 

I decided to add a strip of Studio 18 to the back just so the back won't be plain. I stamped my signature stamp- Hero Arts Handmade From the Heart- at the bottom with VersaFine Onyx Black Pigment Ink. The card measures 7 1/2x6 because of the size of the digi. I could have moved her down more, but the sentiment and the ribbon wouldn't fit. I doubt if this will fit in an envelope, so I may use it later instead of selling it. TFL and join the Besties Challenge! It ends April 9th. I'll post a SMASH entry later. Please become a new follower if you're looking at my blog from the Besties link up. I'm trying to get 75 followers and am only 7 people away! Please let me know in comments if you do become a new follower. Thanks & have a great day! :)