I Love me some Amber Ink iPapers!

I took a little time today to play around with my Cricut with my new Make the Cut software. I'm totally loving the new "Print and Cut" feature of the MTC 3.0 Beta version!

ALL of the papers used in this project are from Amber Ink! You can go HERE to check out the iPapers that are available!!

I started with a metal tin I received in a blog candy from my friend and fellow Fresh Brewed Crew member Audrey. When I opened the box, I thought Christmas had come early! Thank you, Aud... it's AMAZING the amount of "goodies" you packed into that box!!!

The rosette and center medallion were both cut on the Cricut. The snowflake in the center is a punch from Tonic Studios. The border punch on the dark blue is from Fiskars.

Based on all that's been going on, feeling "Blue" seemed appropriate and I am really proud of how this one turned out. It was great to get my mind off "things" for awhile and just go with the flow. Cutting, gluing, folding, stacking, layering, punching... what a great way to float off into another place!

Lucky for me, this project fits a BUNCH of challenges this week!
I think this is the first time I have ever entered 10 or more challenges with ONE project!
YAY! (-:


The Latte Lounge, Die Cuts or Punches
Order of the Opus Gluie: Let's Get Frosted
Tuesday Throwdown: Embellish It
Caardvarks: My Favorite THings, Gift card or Money Holder
Totally Papercrafts Challenge, Untraditional Christmas
Bah Humbug, Feeling the Blues
2Sisters Challenge Blog, Non Traditional Christmas Colors
The Crafty Pad, Snowflakes
Craft Your Passion, Monochrome
Lexi's Creations, Blue and Silver
Crafty Hos' Challenge, Photo Inspiration
For Fun Challenges, Anything Goes

Rough Week!

Hello to my friends and followers!

This will be a short post, as I have just returned to NC from our Thanksgiving trip to Rochester, NY.

It was a LONG drive (12 hours one way!).

The trip was difficult and we do not plan to stay home for long. It is only a matter of time before we will have to go back! :-(

My husband's father has Kidney Cancer and has been placed in Hospice Care.
That means that he has opted to refuse all hospital tests and treatments and has decided to go home for his Final Journey!

They have set up a temporary hospital bed and breathing apparatus for him in their living room.

The nurses project that he won't make it thru this week!

We are hoping he can hold on long enough to see his sister, who is flying in from Las Vegas.

Our boys are confused and sad and it has been hard for them to see him laying there all broken and worn out!
And DH accepts that it is beyond his control to "fix" it, but losing his father is very hard for him!

We appreciate all your kind words, phone calls and prayers!!

I will try to "re-focus" and put up MUCH more cheerful news over the next few days.
But using my blog seemed to most efficient way to reach everyone...

Wacky Wednesday Challenge #3: Trim My Tree!

The "Show Me the Money" Challenge

seemed a little too tough, eh?

We didn't get many entries,

but the ones we DID get were AWESOME!

Thank you for playing with us at the Wacky Wednesday Challenge!

This week, the new challenge is:

Trim My Tree

Here's how it works!

Use THIS picture!!

Download it. 

Print it any size you like. 

Decorate it!

Click here to

Post it at the Latte Lounge!

That's it!!

I hope you'll have fun with this one!

Because I am going away for Thanksgiving

and will be travelling tonite,

I won't be able to see the final entries

in Challenge #2.

So, I will announce the winner

of Challenge #2: Show Me the Money

by next Monday

when I get back!

Fresh Brewed For You!!

I know! The lighting in this one is TERRIBLE!!

Hello and thanks for visiting!

Hopefully this post goes up on time.

I am travelling for Thanksgiving and have scheduled my posts for this week ahead of time!

Unfortunately, this means I won't be able to enter this lovely lady into any of this week's challenges!  (boo-hoo!)

Her name is "Meet Me Under the Mistletoe" and she is one of the fantastic creations you'll find at Fresh Brewed Designs!

Our challenge at the Fresh Brewed Blog is:

Christmas/Winter


If you haven't started your Christmas cards yet, better get a move on!! There's only about 35 days to go!

We love when you use Fresh Brewed Designs images! If you don't have any, jump on over to our Group at Papercraft Planet and snag a FREEBIE or two!!

While you're there snagging freebies, take a minute or two to play along in our Friday Challenge!
It's an awesome color combo!

You'll have to jump over to the Challenge Blog to see all the wonderful creations by the Fresh Brewed Crew!!

Hope you have a wonderful THANKSGIVING!! Save a piece of pecan pie for me!!

Amber Ink InKredible 21 Day Challenge~ Runs Nov 23-Dec 13!!

See! I told you yesterday I had a goodie planned for today!

Don'cha just LOVE the pattern on this project?

It's called: "Spin Pin Holly Berry" and is a BRAND NEW iPaper release from Amber Ink! There are close to 20 new iPapers which coordinate PERFECTLY with the new image releases! No more fussing thru drawers of papers trying to find the right one... just click and print! YAY for EASY!!

Yep, I'm Brilliant, not Patient! (-:

The tag is actually an image in the new set called: "You're the Perfect Package"... the same set I used for my card yesterday!!

I used the 2-5-7-10 Box tutorial from Splitcoast stampers for this gift bag. Super-simple and ultra-cute!!

This gift bag is PERFECT for little Mexican Wedding Cookies (thanks for the suggestion, Incredimombo!)  (-:  Y-U-M!!

So, here are the details you've been waiting to hear:

Welcome to Amber Ink's InKredible 21 Day Challenge!

This is the time of year when the bar is set high!  Family and friends, neighbors and teachers all know that YOU are the one who has such a wonderful ability and flair with paper and markers and cutting instruments with unusual names.  YOU are the one that can put things together in such delectable ways.  You give a gift and people tell you "Oh, it is just too pretty to open!"  Sound familiar?  Then this challenge is for YOU!
Avoid the crunch and start your wrapping early.  You may even win a prize!

THIS MONTH'S THEME IS:  WRAP IT YOUR WAY, with Amber INK!

We like to leave room for the artist in all of you, but we will be looking for taking a gift or a food item, decorating a candle, a hostess gift etc. and decking it all out with Amber INK!

================================

The Rules are Simple:

Use at least ONE AmberInk product in your entry

Wrap a gift item your way!


Blog about it and tell us who/what/where...we want the deets on EVERYTHING!

Add your linky.

You can enter as many times as you'd like, but only one prize per person.

Come back and vote for your favorite entry December 14th, 15th or 16th.

Please be sure to check out our IDEA page to speed up the MOJO FLOW
.  

=================================

Wanna see something REALLY, REALLY cool???  Then check out the projects that our Torchbearing Babe-a-Roo's wrapped their way!

ANGELA!

KERRI!

STACIE! (that's ME!!)  (-:

JULIA!

JULIE!

JULIE!

Top three vote-getters will be in the top 3, but Our current AmberInk(TH)ink tank will award the final place settings. Second and Third prize winners will receive gift certificates to the AmberInk store.  

And the WINNER of AmberInk's InKredible 21 Day Challenge?  The most AMAZING, AWESOME, ASTONISHING prize in blogsville!  Check under Winning Developments.  

Karin Martin was our winner for Challenge #3.  Watch as her ideas develop!

You could win it too - a set that YOU create with Amber. Dream BIG ladies.  All you have to do is Enter and Win!!!! 

Now that's a WRAP!

Fun with NEW Amber Ink Sets!

Oh my Gosh!!
Being a Torch Bearer for the Amber Ink (Th)Ink Tank is a RIOT!!! Every day, I just laugh and giggle at all their shenanigans!

Today is a New Release Day at Amber Ink!

For my debut card as the Representative of Team Purple, I have actually used 4 (yes, FOUR) digis from the new set You're the Perfect Package.

AND!! I also used one of the brand new iPapers!!

I'm tellin' ya, these new Amber Ink products are "da bomb!!"

The "You're the Perfect Package" set comes with 15 (yep, FIFTEEN!!) images in one pack!! C'mon, where else can you get 15 awesome images that all go together and coordinate so perfectly?!?

You'll definitely want to jump right over to Amber Inklings to check out the entire new release and see all the lovely work all the Torch Bearers have done... I'm so proud to be part of such a creative group!!

Unfortunately, you won't see my lovely lady in the collection because I had printer issues and had streaks thru all my prints... changed the cartridge and ran a clean cycle and all seems to be better! So, I missed the deadline to submit this project for the Blog Post... I'll be back tomorrow with something else for you that you won't want to miss!!

**ETA** I will be visiting relatives for Thanksgiving and won't have internet access for most of the week! I am writing up all my blog posts for the week and scheduling them to post on the day they're due. I am HOPING that Mr. Blogger is kind and cooperates... If you don't see anything from me this week, we all know what happened!

The Stamping Boutique Thanksgiving Blog Hop

Hi and thanks for stopping by today!
Today is the beginning of the Stamping Boutique's Thanksgiving Blog Hop!
Just for playing today, you can start at the Stamping Boutique and pick up your FREEBIE!!
You should have arrived here from Genevieve's Blog!
I hope you've had a chance to collect all the letters along your way!!
Each of us is offering a special letter!
When you put the all together and spell out the answer, you can email them to Amanda at the end of the hop and you'll be entered to win a Fabulous Prize!
Tracey is giving away TWO Free images from The Stamping Boutique!
All you have to do is leave a comment and be on your way!


The next stop for your next letter is
Jan's Gone Stampin' 
I'm sure she has something Fantastic For You!


If you haven't Figured it out, my Favorite Letter For the Hop is "F"!
If you get lost along the way, here is a list of everyone who is participating:

 Collette www.collette-heavensent.blogspot.com
 Genevieve www.scrapmuscade.blogspot.com

 Stacie www.hestiashelper.blogspot.com (you are HERE)

 Jan www.jans-gonestampin.blogspot.com

 Jenn www.jenmcgee46.blogspot.com

 Melissa www.melissacreates.blogspot.com

 Aletha www.ajsdesigns.blogspot.com

 Debbie www.stampwithdebbie.blogspot.com

 Amanda www.colouringourworld.blogspot.com

Make sure you leave a little love at every stop so you can be entered for the prize!

We love comments!

Don't Forget, the Latte Lounge is hosting a Christmas Party and you're ALL invited!
We're doing a Secret Santa exchange, too! How F-U-N!!


If you haven't had a chance to visit us at the Latte Lounge, you're really missing a lot of fun!
We have THREE challenges running right now!

• Rhonda just started Die Cuts or Punches, which will be running for 2 weeks!!
• Jen is hosting Hidden Element, which is a pretty cool concept- come over and check it out!!
• And there's still time to get in on my own "Wacky Wednesday, Show me the Money", which I think is SO F-U-N!!!

I know you're busy, but we'd really appreciate it if you'd pop in to say "Hi" and post a project or two!

Images in my card:
AJ the Pilgrim- The Stamping Boutique
Postcard- Stamping Dragon Designs
Sentiment- MM Designs
Paper- Martha Stewart
Ribbon-a RAK from my good friend Heather Dennis

How Perfect!

Many have asked the meaning of my blog title: Hestia's Helper!
The truth is, Hestia is/was the Greek Goddess of Hearth and Home!
One of the traditions that were implemented in her name is the passing of the torch!
As such, the Olympic flame can never be extinguished as it is passed
from one torch bearer to another thru history!

So how PERFECT is it that I get to be the next TORCH BEARER!!!

I have the distinct honor of representing Team Purple for the Amber Ink (Th)Ink tank!
Thank you to Rhonda Miller for passing your purple torch to me!
You have GOT to go check out the super-cute babes of the November (Th)Ink Tank:

Angela

Julia

Julie

Kerri

We're all getting pretty FIRED up about the next INKredible 21-day Challenge!

Amber Ink is home to awesome images, clear stamps and iPapers that go with EVERYTHING!

We're already having a ball and are just getting started!

November is going to be SUPER-FUN!!

New Challenges to Enter

Today is the day!
The official debut of the new Design Team
at Fresh Brewed Designs!

With the opening of
Challenge #23
we have officially completed our first assignment!

You'll want to jump over to Fresh Brewed Challenges
and take a look at all the amazing work the DT has done!

While you're there,
Show Us Your Style!
That's the theme of this week's challenge. She is also being entered in:
The Crafy Ho's: Fall Colors
Papertake Weekly, Autumn Skies
Cute Card Thursday, Anything Goes (WOW! I am entry # 825)
Some Odd Girl, Use Digis to Create a Background


For my card, I have used THREE Fresh Brewed Images: So Thankful, Fall is Here, and Angel Cake Fall Wagon! I wanted to show the true versatility of digital stamps. Using a simple picture editor, I changed the color of "So Thankful" to an opaque gray, made it very small in size, and scattered it around the page for a background image. Then added the yellow color to the background, added the "Fall is Here" sentiment and printed it. Printed and colored my "Angel Cake" with Prismacolor pencils and cut her out and popped her on top of the ribbon... three different ways to use digis in one card! Easy-peasey!

Next on the list today is "Gretta Gobble" from
Digis With Attitude!
The look on her face just slays me every time!

I couldn't help myself, I had to add a sentiment with a real attitude! I think you'll agree, she definitely has THAT look- you know the one!!

The challenge for Digis With Attitude! this week is to follow a recipe: Sparkle, Ribbon and 2 patterned papers.

I followed Marie's Sketch #41 from Sunday Sketch and Stamp. It's hard to tell from this picture, but the glittered papers are all sparkly. They are DCWV, I believe (?)...
She's also entering:
Creative Card Crew, Thanksgiving
Stamp Something, November Digi Day Challenge

LOOK!! Look at this GORGEOUS layout that has been submitted for the Wacky Wednesday Challenge at the Latte Lounge!!

The Challenge is "Show me the Money": use real money on your creation! Michelle did all that and more!

What an inspiration to come over and play along!

Christmas Party !!

Come join us for our Christmas Celebration at The Latte Lounge...

WHEN: December 3rd-5th 2010

WHERE: Christmas Celebration Group at TLL

HOSTESS: Rhonda Miller and the TLL DT

Here’s what you’ll find at this fun filled weekend……

Challenges

Prizes

Chatting

Fun, fun, fun…..

Also be sure to stop by early and join the fun of our

 Secret Santa Group!!!! 

You don't want to be left off Santa's list.

I hope you'll all join us.

There's a LOT going on over at the Latte Lounge!

Jen from JLJ Designs is sponsoring the new 
Hidden Element Challenge!

This is a F-U-N one!

Here's my card:

When you slide it open, 

the hidden dollar appears!!

And there's still time to enter my "Show Me the Money" Challenge!
Create anything that includes the use of
REAL MONEY!!

AND...You still have TWO DAYS to enter Rhonda's 

Thanksgiving Challenge!

There are THREE challenges running together at The Latte Lounge

each running 2 weeks

starting and ending on different days!

So, come over and JOIN US!

There's ALWAYS something new to do at the "Lounge"!! 

OWH Blog Hop: Proud to be TSB and FBD!!

Hi and welcome! 
What a great weekend this is going to be!


I'm so proud and honored to be a part of the Operation Write Home Blog Hop!


What better way to thank our soldiers than to send them handmade cards that they can use to send home to their families and friends?


That is the mission of Operation Write Home! To date 672,400 cards have been sent to deployed heroes...91,000 in October alone!!


Because the cards are processed thru voluteer shippers and have to go through triage before being sent overseas, the time has already passed for Thanksgiving and Christmas cards.


We are now working on VALENTINE'S CARDS for our soldiers!!

This handsome fella is named AJ the Romatic and he is one of the adorable creations of Tracey at The Stamping Boutique!


There are a few very simple rules when sending cards for soldiers. Visit the website for more information! 


One of the biggest, and most important, is NO GLITTER!! NONE!!!


The deadline for VALENTINE'S CARDS is January 7th! So get your cards sent in quick as you can!


Please take a second to vote for Operation Write home in the Craft for a Cause Contest! The winner will receive $50,000 from Jo-ann's! That's a LOT of postage and envelopes for our volunteers!

This little sweetie is "Sending Love" from the fabulous collection of Fresh Brewed Designs! 


It's so hard to think about Valentine's cards and themes when we just finished trick-or-treating!


Thank you so much for visiting today!


Enjoy the rest of the hop!








Lots of my friends are offering yummy blog candies... visit the links on the right to feast your eyes on all the goodies!

You should have arrived here from Ayana's Creations.

Your next stop on the hop is: 

Holly at InkPaperStamps 


And if you get lost on the way, here is the beginning of the hop, which lists over 100 participants!