Welcome to the Orange Blog Hop.  If you happened by not knowing about the hop, we're having a Fiskateer hop today celebrating all things orange a la the orange handled scissors I love so much.  If you aren't yet a Fiskateer, I hope you'll consider joining in.  All you need to do to get started is send me an email at tami@fiskateers.com and let me know about your craft interests.

I had loads of fun playing around with my new favorite Fiskars punches and stamp set to come up with this orange tag for you.  It's a bit on the yellow side of orange, but it does look more orange in real life.  I used some of my old favorites here, too.  The base is an Avery tag covered with sewing pattern paper.  It's pretty delicate, so a glue stick on the tag is about all it takes.  I wrinkled up the pattern paper first for texture and then used a brayer after I got it glued down to get it to stick good and get out the air bubbles.  I then stamped over the paper using Versafine Ink and the stamp set called For the Birds.  The border punch is called In Stitches.  The flowers are by Hero Arts with a sewing snap through the middle.  I painted Radiant Pearls over the top of the tag and on the top flower.  The sentiment is stamped onto a scrap with the same Versafine ink and then punched out with a new squeeze punch called Postage Stamp.  That's a piece of old measuring tape tied up on the top.

I have an extra set of the For the Birds stamps to give away to one lucky hopper who leaves a comment here.  Be sure you sign in with enough info so I can find you after the hop if you win.  Next stop on the hop: Kate Blue #4529

Thanks for stopping by today.

blog hop with candy

Wonderful Friend Supplies-Cardstock: Stampin Up; Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye; Flower: Making Memories; Gems: Mrs. Grossman's, K & Co; Stamps: Our Craft Lounge; Ink: Ranger; Mask: Advantus; Edge Distresser: Tonic; Other: Linen Thread.
I really enjoyed using OCL cling mount rubber stamps to make this card. First I put a mask down over patterned paper and applied broken china distress ink with a blending tool. I removed the mask and stamped the flowers with the same broken china ink. I love layering inks this way for a subtle look. I stamped the sentiment, the same flowers on the paper flower, and added color to the distressed edges with tea dye distress ink. The flower is folded in half over a loop of linen thread. I like to add a hint of bling to brighten up a distressed card. These gems do the trick.

Welcome to the Scrapbook News and Review/Our Craft Lounge Spotlight Blog Hop. It's a hop to the blogs of SNR staff members who produced art for the Our Craft Lounge article that first appeared in the giant Aug/Sept double issue. Today's your chance to take a peek inside this great digital magazine. Each blog on the hop will give you a look at projects from inside the magazine.

Our Craft Lounge Stamps and Scrapbook News and Review is offering prizes for two very lucky winners. One winner will receive 2 sets of OCL stamps and a 3 month subscription to SNR magazine. The grand prize winner will receive 3 OCL stamp sets and a 6 month subscription to the magazine. Visit the blog of every staff member on the hop, take note of the titles of their featured projects, then drop a note to games@scrapbooknewsandreview.com with the list. Be sure to include your full name, the names of all featured projects, and your email address. Winner will be chosen at random. All entries must be received by 10 pm EST Oct 25, 2009.

Next stop on the hop is Erika's blog . If you're joining us in the middle of the hop, you can find the first blog post at the Scrapbook News and Review Blog. The blog hop will conclude on the Scrapbook News and Review main page where you'll have the chance to read the entire Our Crafts lounge article, and enjoy all of the art and ideas included. Thanks for stopping by today.

collections and a winner

Be still my heart; I've found many fellow button collecting blog friends. I thank each and every one of you who shared your beautiful stories about button jars and tins and stringing buttons and your grandma's collections of buttons and your button treasure hunting expeditions. There are so many memories tied to buttons. I was amazed at the other wonderful things everyone collects. Here's a quick list I made of the things collected, while browsing through all of your beautiful comments.

bells, beanie babies, buttons, button pins, currency, Dopey, dust, elephants, humming birds, jewelry, old love letters, paper, penguins, pretty rocks, ribbon, rubber stamps, seashells, tea cups and teapots, vintage junk

I must admit that I also collect dust, pretty rocks, rubber stamps, and vintage junk. This blog hop was so much fun for me. I really enjoyed visiting everyone's blog and reading all the kind comments left for me. Thank you to everyone who played along in the hop. I hope you found as much inspiration as I did. We had a wonderful holiday weekend filled with bbq, fireworks, games, and some rockin' 80's live music.

Congratulations to Beth on winning the one month subscription to SNR. We're getting her all set up to access the magazine. The newest issue was published on Sunday, chock full of amazing ideas and inspiration. Don't forget, we've got a big event coming up on Saturday with classes on wonderful techniques and projects.

wear your colors proudly

Congratulations, you made it to the last blog on the SNR Card Universe Blog Hop! If you came from Karolyn's blog, you're on the right track. If you didn't you may want to hop to SNR Card Universe, and start at the beginning. The last place to hop is back to SNR.


Since you made it all the way to the end I wanted to offer something different. I have lots of crafty interests and weird collections here that seem to make their way into my creative realm. So, for the 4th, I got out the button jars. Oh, yes I have more than one. I'm addicted to old buttons. I made a new button charm bracelet to share with you today. If you look closely, you'll see that there are a few non-buttons in the mix. I included an old bingo marker, a couple of silver charms, and a fragment. I had to drill a hole in the bingo marker and I finally got out my Fiskars hand drill for the job. Oh my goodness, why did I wait to use this handy little tool. It worked beautifully and cut so smoothly. I didn't even have to sand away any rough edges. The word charm says courage on one side and hope on the other. I salvaged it from a piece of jewelry that I took apart to use in new pieces. There's something lyrical about those words and how they came to be remade into this piece. I'll be wearing it to the fireworks display over the lake tonight.

Leave a comment here to be entered in a random drawing for a one month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review. I'd love to hear about your collections, especially if you have an affinity for buttons.

If you have more time, there's a bigger prize you can play for. All participating SNR staff members have part of a phrase posted on their blog today. Find each staffer’s blog along the hop, jot down their portion of the phrase, unscramble the wording, then send an email to games@scrapbooknewsandreview.com with the full phrase. My word is ASK. One hopper will win a full one year subscription to Scrapbook News and Review. You have until monday night to get your answer emailed. I hope you had fun on the hop and found lots of inspiration.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Enjoy the BBQ and fireworks wherever you are. The last place to hop is back to SNR.

Memorial Day

I made this to include in my next batch of cards heading out to Cards for Heroes. I've no idea who the end recipient will be, but I hope it brings a smile to someone's face. I love the idea of sharing my cards with someone who can really use them. They go overseas to soldiers who then send them home to loved ones. I never stamp the inside, since I imagine they have notes to write. I've not served in the military, but I greatly admire those who do. We have family members and friends who are serving overseas in various capacities. This is my small way of showing support for our troops.

I'm taking part in the Cards for Heroes Memorial Day Blog Hop. If you didn't get a chance to start at the beginning, go here to start at the top of the hop. There are some fantastic prizes being given away for those who follow the hop and leave comments as they roll through. If you a comment here, I'll enter you in my drawing for a 3 month subscription to Scrapbook News and Review. I hope you'll consider sending CFH some cards or support with shipping costs. Next stop on the bloghop has the most gorgeous papers ever. Show Rusty Pickle some love. I'm guessing they may even be giving away something fabulous.

Supplies used: Cuttlebug embossing folder, DCWV cardstock, CTMH rhinestones, sandpaper, Versafine ink, SU sentiment, Sizzlets die cut, sandpaper, red and white ribbon.