Thrifty Christmas Blog Hop with the TSB Team!

Welcome to The Stamping Boutique’s

"Thrifty Christmas-Making Handmade Gifts" Blog Hop!!

We are very excited about the holidays and know for many money is tight this year, 

but that doesn't mean you cannot give great gifts! 

Our Elves, oh I mean design team, have been busy in their workshops coming up with 

some fabulous projects to help you with those last minute gift ideas. 

What better way to show you than to have a

BLOG HOP!!!

You won’t want to miss this hop and because we know you are all busy 

getting all the preparations done for the holidays, this hop will run all weekend. 

The hop starts today, Friday December 9th @ 12:01 am (CST) 

and runs until Sunday December 11th @ 11:59 pm (CST).

If you have hopped over from Rhonda's Blog, then you are in the right place. 

If you just happened to stop by and would like to join our hop from the beginning, 

please go to Christy’s blog and follow along for a chance to win 

some AMAZING blog candy along the way and PRIZES at the end.

Including a SUPER Grand Prize: $25 in digis from TSB store!

Each designer along the way is featuring a project that showcases a digital image from 

The Stamping Boutique store. 

Be sure to visit all the design’s blogs and leave a comment (we will be checking). 

Each designer will be giving away (1) FREE image from our store 

to one random commenter.

Once you have finished the hop, make sure to leave a comment 

on The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog for your chance to win 

a $25 gift certificate for our store!!. 

Remember to be eligible for all prizes, 

YOU MUST COMMENT ON EACH STOP ALONG THE WAY!

Once again, my post is going up with no pictures!
Hooray... ***edited to add photos!!
Thank you for all who hopped early
and I'm sorry for the photo delay...

I have a Kodak Digital camera and every time I push the button to take a picture, it turns itself off and on and goes back to the "reset time and date" screen... has anyone else ever had this problem with a camera?

The battery is fully charged and I can't figure out how to fix it 

without taking it to an (expensive) camera shop!

The Kodak website was no help either...

It's too dark to use my cell phone tonite, so maybe, 

if the sun makes an appearance tomorrow, I can try that, 

but for now, I'm photo-free! 
Silly bugger turned right on this morning and I was able to snap a few shots
before it started the on-off-on-off game...

Maybe Santa will throw a new one under the tree this year! 

I have used the Candyland Winter Tag Digi from The Stamping Boutique

and the Drum from the "Santa's Visit" set from SVGCuts.com

to make this adorable gift for my Secret Santa at The Crafter's Cafe.

She has not received it yet, but I think she'll be happy when she does!

{at least I hope so!!}

Next stop by Ali's blog, to see what she has in store for you today.

And if you get lost along the way, here is the list:

Blog Hop Order:

Christy D
Jen S
Rhonda
Stacie  **YOU ARE HERE**
Ali (Dragonlady)
Sandy
Melissa
Sue
Audrey
Julia
Jessica
Lawren
Miranda
TSB Challenge Blog

Happy Birthday TSB!!!

The Stamping Boutique is CELEBRATING

our TWO YEAR BIRTHDAY!!

Pop over to the Stamping Boutique Blog 

to see all the celebrations!!

Join in on one of the games or challenges for a chance to WIN!!

How easy is this??
Post this button on your blog and
add your name to the list!
Every month, you could WIN!!! TSB images!

The Monthly Contest is simple too:
just enter ANY project you've made using TSB images!

If you don't have any TSB images
you can enter our
Bi-Weekly Challenge
The Theme is "Back to School"
I colored the School House with my
Prismacolor Pencils
The background paper is:
Back to School Paper
and the ruler is:
Mrs. Czapor's Ruler
All three images are in the TSB Shop!

The Apple and Star are MTC shapes.

The Seam Binding is from 

JLJ Designs!

And, there's MORE!! When they throw a Party at TSB, they sure do go ALL OUT!!

Another chance for you to WIN!! more TSB images!!

Just make a Birthday card to help us celebrate!

Enter it in 

the Birthday Celebration

and you could win!!

And this card is PERFECT

for the Brand New

Month Long Progressive Challenge

at The Crafter's Cafe!

The challenge gets a "Progressively"

more challenging every week.

This week, we're starting simple

with a "Celebration" card!

I am celebrating a very special birthday

and hope you'll join me in wishing Tracey the best as her store turns two!

Here is the outside of my pop up stage card:

Here's to the past two years of Smashing Success 

and to many more!!

We love you Tracey!!

Week 2 of the Latte Lounge Challenge

So, here we are in Week 2 of the
August Month Long Challenge
at the Latte Lounge!


The theme for the MONTH is:
ANYTHING in AUGUST
and every week we add a new
"twist" to make it a little more challenging!


The "Twist" this week is:
ADD A BOW


I chose to use the card I made last week and add a bow to it!


The bow is actually Bright Blue Seam Binding from JLJ Designs.
I have used three different images from The Stamping Boutique in this card:
Back to School School House
Back to School Background Paper and
Mrs. Czapor's Ruler


Speaking of images from The Stamping Boutique, 
did you know today is "Fabulous Followers Freebie Day"


Better hurry over and grab it, because it's only available TODAY!!


The only rule to our challenges at the "Lounge" is that you must be a member to play along... but you can enter as many times as you'd like!
We have a variety of sponsors for our Month-long challenge, and at the end of the month, we do a random drawing for all the prizes! 
There is a potential for NINE different prizes to be awarded!!


If you haven't been over to the Latte Lounge to visit lately, you'll want to take a second to pop in... things are really moving right along and there is a LOT going on!!

We are having a Latte Lounge Design Team Call

and would LOVE to meet new friends 

to join us in all the fun over there!

Challenges:

Kaboodle Doodles, Primary Colors

KB Cute Monday, Anything Goes, Use a Digi

One Stitch at a Time, Use a Digi

Order of the Opus Gluei, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words,

I hope the numbers on the ruler image don't count as "words" (-:

My Cheri Crafts, Back to School, I have just found this challenge blog thru Feline Playful, but their DT projects are AMAZING!! I am definitely following them now for GREAT inspiration!

Crafty Catz, sponsored this week by TSB!!!, Back to School

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges, School Time (I don't own any Daisy Doodles images, so my entry will not count toward the prize)

Keeping Cool with TSB

I have been waiting all week to post this card!

I made it for the newest challenge at

The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog

which starts today!

I always show my projects to DH for feedback

when they're finished

and this is the FIRST time he ever said

"Wow, I think that's the best one you ever made!"

It just looks and feels "right"!

The challenge is to 

Keep It Cool

using colors on the "Cool" side of the Color Wheel

The image is called "The Fairy's Nap"

and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it!

I colored it with my Prismacolor pencils

and cut the nested shape with a Penny Duncan Shapley

I followed her tutorial for layering the "sandwich" for the

nice embossed edge and it worked perfectly.

For the price of one sheet of plain card stock

I made a "Nested" shape that some people

have paid almost $20 for!

The fairy's wings and legs are painted with

Creative Inspirations "Fairy Dust" paint.

I love that stuff! (-:

The background paper is K & Co

and the ribbon is from a Latte Lounge ribbon swap

(I think?)

If you haven't taken a look around the shop

at The Stamping Boutique lately

you'll want to hop over and take advantage 

of "One Buck Week"

This week all the images in the

"Whimsical Inspiration" section

are only $1.00!!

I sure hope you're feeling "cool" today

and that I have somehow inspired you

to try making a project using only the 

"Cool" side of the color wheel!

I can't wait to visit all the entries in

this weeks' challenge!

From the Smallest Packages come the Greatest Miracles

We are already up to the ninth challenge at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog! This week, we have been asked to create a project using NO designer paper! We had to create our own background!


I used the "Curiosity" image from The Stamping Boutique and doodled my background sparkles to mimic the doodles in the image. The sparkles have "Creative Inspirations" paint, so they are quite shimmery up close and personal! I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils, cut the leaves and vines from MyScrapChick and used "Breezy Backyard Lever Cards" from SVGCuts.com for my card base. The seam binding ribbon is from JLJ Designs and is available at her shop for only $0.99 for THREE YARDS! (that's NINE FEET for only 99 cents!! The papers are all from a pack of colored cardstock in my stash (no labels??)... 

The acorns were "picked" fresh from my back yard by my boys. They seemed appropriate since the theme of the image seems to be the focus on the miracle of growth! It truly is amazing, how Mother Nature works!! From tiny eggs and seeds come the most wonderful, beautiful birds and trees and all things awesome!


As I was browsing Blogland, seeking inspiration for my TSB DT project for this week's challenge, I came across The Stamping Sisters in Christ and the quote for inspiration this week was a basis for the whole theme of my card!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

There are a few other challenges this week I'd like to submit my card:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts, Fairies
One Stitch at a Time, Things with Wings
Stampin Sisters in Christ, Card you Doodle On
Craft Catz, Fancy Folds
Delicious Doodles, Things that Flutter
Polka Doodles, All of a Flutter
Simply Create, Fly with Us
Papercrafting Journey, Our Feathered Friends
By the Cute and Girly, In the Garden
Creative Craft Challenges, Make Your Own Background
A Spoonful of Sugar, Ribbons and Bows




and last but not least:
The Latte Lounge June Monthly Challenge:
the third requirement is to Add an Object from Outside!


We would LOVE for you to join us at the "Lounge"!!


The Monthly Challenge is SUPER-FUN and the 
KID'S Challenge (Dreaming of a Sunny Day) has really gotten some very creative entries!


I'm so happy you decided to stop in to visit today and hope to see you over at the "Lounge"! 

Stand Still and Consider the Wondrous Works of God

... and the Wondrous Works of Tracey Malnofski, from The Stamping Boutique!

This image is called "Girl Walking on the Beach" and from the second I saw it, I just knew that we were made for each other!

I colored the sunset with Oil Pastels

and cut the shape from SVGCuts.com Memory Garden Collection.

The corner swirls are from Stampin' Up

and I made the sentiment in Inkscape.

The June Month Long Challenge at the Latte Lounge 

is in full swing and the theme is 'Nature and Outdoors'.

Every week of the month, we add a new "twist" 

to make it a little more interesting.

The "add-on" this week is: Add BROWN!

At the end of the month, we have a drawing from all the entries 

and hand out prizes from ALL our sponsors!

So far, this month, we have FOUR sponsors.

That means four drawings and four WINNERS!!

Come over to the Latte Lounge and join us!

You can win prizes from:

The Stamping Boutique

Digi Design House

Stampin'with Brenda and

In a Scrap Creations

All you have to do is post a picture in the Challenge thread

(we don't use Linky-things or anything like that...)

We try to keep it simple because we have so many 

other things to do at the Lounge!

There is a spectacular photo gallery for inspiration!

Lots of Groups to visit 

and some of them have challenges, freebies and events.

We also have a Kid's Challenge, 

where we love to see work from our Junior Crafters!

And our Discussion Forum and live Chat window

are just great places to hang out and chat with friends

over a nice cuppa latte!

Hope to see you there!

Booty Call and Beachy Fun

The One Stop Blog Hop at The Stamping Boutique was a fun one this time. We got to use the Summer Laundry Line image!


All the votes were placed in the comments section and the winner was #2, Kecia!


This is MY card for the Hop. The swimsuit is actually painted with Creative Inspirations paints and is quite shimmery and pretty, but it doesn't photograph well.

 Now we are on to Challenge #8 at
The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog.
The theme for the challenge is "Guy Cards". With Father's Day quickly approaching, it seems to be a pretty common theme that should get LOTS of entries!
Every body is making cards for their dad...
I used "Princess Jennifer Latte the Pirate" from The Stamping Boutique and no, I don't suppose this one will go to my dad. But it's DEFINITELY a "guy" card!

Here's a close-up of Miss PJL!
I do all my coloring with Prismacolor pencils and for the background on this one, I used Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a paint brush with lots of water. After my image was colored, I ripped the edges of the paper, inked with Walnut stain and put big drops of water in the ink and basically "spread it around" to soak in.
I'm really happy with how shiny her black books look... getting that look with pencils was a little challenging but I LOVE the end result.

And my third project for The Stamping Boutique this week features the "Coeopsis" image. 
I made this one for the June Month Long Challenge at the Latte Lounge.
Our theme this month is "Nature and Outdoors".
I love the challenges at the Latte Lounge because every week, we add a new "Twist" to keep the challenge fresh and interesting!


The papers in the background are digital papers from JLJ Designs, in the brand new "Back to Nature" pack.


It's been a busy few days, but I've had a blast working with all these images!


I hope you'll get a chance to stop in a see the "Guy Card" challenge at TSB and the "Nature/Outdoors" challenge at the "Lounge!"
I'll be lookin' for ya!

One Stop Hop: Vote TODAY!

Today is the day!

We're having a "One-Stop" Blog Hop

at the Stamping Boutique!

Many of you might remember the one we did like this in February.

It was a LOT of fun, so we're doing it again!

This month, the Design Team was challenged to use

Tracey's FABULOUS new summer digis.

We all created special projects that I'm not allowed to post 

until the end of the Hop.

It's a fast and easy hop, that won't take all day!

Just visit the Challenge Blog to see all the projects

in one place!

Leave a comment to vote for your favorite!

The Team member who gets the most votes

will win a prize!

AND there will also be a random drawing 

from all the comments.

So you can WIN great TSB prizes!

Just for looking and voting!

Voting closes Sunday night at midnight

so hurry up... get over there before you forget!

Hurry!! Time's running out!!

You're running out of time!!

The Dollar Digi Sale is ending

in only 4 hours!!

Hurry over to the

Stamping Boutique

and grab all the NEW images

you can for only

$1 each!!

Stamping Boutique Blog Hop

We're doing something a little different this time!
Because the Stamping Boutique Design Team is such a large group, we have divided the team into two groups for this Hop. Feel free to hop through both groups to increase your chances of winning TSB Goodies!


You should have started at The Stamping Boutique Challenge Blog. If you just happened to pop in today, you'll want to make a quick stop over there to check out the details of the Hop this weekend!


We were all given the "Maypole" image to work with and you should see some the terrific projects created by my TSB Teamies! 

Your next stop in the Hop 

is the uber-talented Christy at Inklings and Yarns! 

I'm sure you're in for a real treat!

And guess what!! This Tuesday, you can grab the image in this hop for only $1.00!! For the first time ever, The Stamping Boutique is having a Dollar Days sale and Tracey has decided to offer ALL of the images in the "What's New" Section for ONLY ONE DOLLAR each... so make sure you RUN to the TSB Store on Tuesday and grab all the images you can at this great price!

For my card, I chose to use the Sketch from Sunday Sketch and Stamp (which TSB is sponsoring this week)!
I used printable digi papers from JLJ Designs' Cynthia Set which is exclusively available at the Stamping Boutique Store!

Jen is having a challenge over at the Latte Lounge and the only requirement is to use ANY JLJ Designs product!!


She has a brand new store at Artfire and it's chuck full of goodies!
I have almost every paper in her collection and use them all the time!


And if you love new and different papers but don't have the means to buy entire packs, you should join us at the May Swap Club at the Latte Lounge! This month, we're swapping 6" x 6" papers!! Everyone who signs up sends enough papers for each member of the group, then in return, we each receive one paper from each member in our packet! What a great way to try a new variety!


Last month, we swapped ribbons and I used a piece of my brand new ribbon in today's project! What a really neat ribbon it is, too... it's elastic and iridescent... so pretty and shimmery and just perfect for the Maypole!


And, last but not least: my sentiment! My friend Sara sent me a whole pack of Ippity images and sentiments to play with and the challenge at Get Hippity with Ippity is Flowers, Flowers and more Flowers! Well! let's see... umm... flowers? check! Got it covered with  my rolled roses and the flowers at the top of the Maypole! The sentiment "thinking of you" is from the "Just Wanted to Say" Ippity Set! I'm IN like Flynn! (-:


I thank you so much for visiting today and I hope you'll have time to take advantage of the TSB Dollar Days Sale on Tuesday! There are over 75 images in that section of the store and at $1 each, you really should head over and start your shopping list today!

Winged Things and other ways to win TSB Prizes

First of all, I have to remind you of all the great chances you have 

to win prizes from The Stamping Boutique!

The Royal Wedding Event at SNR challenge entries are due this Friday!

There are chances to win Red Rubber Stamps 

and a $20 Gift Certificate from The Stamping Boutique.

Also, The Kid's Challenge at The Latte Lounge, 

"Something for My BFF" 

is ending this weekend!

We're working on setting up our events for May at "The Lounge" 

and if you're not already a member, 

it's a good time to get in on the fun we're having!

The Month Long Challenge at the Stamping Boutique Challenge blog 

ends in a few days! 

That's an easy one! Post ANY project you've made with TSB products 

and enter as many times as you can!

That's the "old" news! 

Here's what's new!

Two weeks ago we started our Color Challenge 

and we received 18 wonderful entries. 

Choosing the Top 3 is going to be tough!! I'm glad I don't have to do it!

Since that challenge has ended, it's time for a new one to begin! 

Based on my photo, can you guess the theme of the NEW 

Tuesday Challenge at the Stamping Boutique?

I'll give you a hint: it can be fairies, butterflies, ummm... peacocks?

Yep! The New Challenge is 

WINGED THINGS!

And in Tracey's massive collection at TSB 

you're sure to find some marvelous choices!

Tracey has been cranking out new images like a machine for us 

and I completely fell in love with this one!

His name is "Paisley Peacock" and you can grab him at the shop HERE! 

I love how she put the word "Art" on his wing 

and the tilt of his head and the amazingly detailed tiny images 

in each of his tail feathers! WOW!

I colored him with Prismacolor pencils

and added Glossy Accents to "Accent" some parts.

I created the Paisley shaped card using Inkscape

and cut it with my Cricut and SCAL.

The scalloped background and the flowers and vine

are all misted with my PearlEx spray.

What?!!? You don't have any images from The Stamping Boutique?

Well then, you'll definitely want to play in this challenge for a chance to win some!

The Royal Wedding Event at SNR

Today is the Third Day of FREEBIES at our Group at the SNR/Card Universe Site.

Today's FREEBIE is "Audrey the Bride" and she's only available TODAY, so hurry over to our Group Page and GRAB her before she's gone!

With our THIRD day and our THIRD FREEBIE we're also having a THIRD challenge: Use the Royal Colours: Red, White and Blue!

I finally got a chance to play with the FIRST freebie, that was offered Friday: "The Wedding Chapel". The challenge is to "Create Your Own Background".

I think this is quite possibly the "Sparkle-iest" card I have ever made! I put Versamark Ink on my Sizzix Diamonds embossing folder then embossed my background card stock. While the ink was still wet, I added Gold embossing powder and shook it off and heat embossed it! In real life, it is so sparkly and rich-looking!

The image is "The Wedding Chapel" from The Stamping Boutique. After I colored it with Prismacolor Pencils and cut it out, I sprayed it with my "Home-made" Shiimmer Mist using Gold Pearl Ex.

I cut the square frame out of my base with my Nesties, then flipped the cutout piece to back the iamge.

The sentiment is a stamp from a variety pack I bought a long time ago. The tag and bells were cut in SCAL. With all the noise about MTC lately, I have been using my SCAL more often and I still love it! MTC is great for all it's features, but SCAL has a special place for me too!

For such a simple card, it seems like this one took a long time to put together. I think it was all the embossing...

I am going to upload this card 

into the Challenge #1 Photo Album 

at our Stamping Boutique Group 

and I hope to see more entries 

getting posted soon!

Tracey has graciously offered 

a ton of TERRIFIC prizes 

including RUBBER STAMPS 

and a $20 Gift Certificate... 

it would just be silly to miss out 

on chance at such great prizes!!

By the way, I found the greatest site the other day, from another Blogger friend.

It's called "Stamping Vacation"! They have several monthly challenges and you can enter as many times as you like. All the entries are entered into a drawing at the end of the month for a Gift Certificate.

They have a bunch of challenges right now that I plan to play in, but  for this card, I'd like to enter it in their:

Stamping Vacation, Occasion Oasis, Wedding Challenge