Fiskafriends The Power of Community Blog Hop and Giveaway

       Welcome to our blog hop!

     We are celebrating our First Anniversary with a Fiskafriend Blog Hop.  You do not have to be a Fiskafriend to visit and comment on our bloggers' posts. This hop is open to everyone! International visitors included! The theme of the hop is Anything Goes, so be prepared to find a variety of creative projects and ideas. 
     Giveaway prizes?  Of course! Everyone loves a giveaway! We will have an end of the hop giveaway with fabulous prizes. In addition to the end of the hop giveaway, some of our bloggers are offering giveaway prizes of their own on their posts.    For the complete blog hop list and to be entered in the Fiskafriends' sponsored giveaways, leave a comment on any of the listed blogs and follow the sponsor giveaway entry directions at: http://fiskafriends.blogspot.com/ 

     I am having my own giveaway too! Instructions to enter my separate giveaway are at the bottom of this post.

     I  have Easter cards to share with you on my hop stop.

     I've been playing around lately with the idea of what impact color and simple patterns can have in card design. I used a fairly bright pink on my first card. The gingham gives it a sort of country look, even with the fancy, white, die-cut overlay.

     I used the exact same design on my second card changing only the color and using a solid instead of a printed, oval layer. The second card is certainly more elegant than the first.

     I had a heck of a time photographing this second card. Something about the flowers is reading wrong through my camera. I'm sharing it here anyway, so you can at least get a better idea of what I'm talking about. The flowers in 'real life' are a much better match with this light peach background.  

     >>>DESIGNER TIP<<< To get my heat-embossed sentiment to match the curve of my oval panel, I curved the clear stamp as I placed it on an acrylic block. Kind of gives an extra life to a lot of my stamps.

 

      I want to show you the inside of my cards as well. I often don't put as much effort on the inside of the card, but I'm changing that. I like bringing a little something from the front to the inside - color and theme in this instance. I wish I had thought to put a piece of the die-cut vine on the inside to peak out from under the sentiment tag. Too late, the cards are already in the mail headed to their recipients.

   For the complete blog hop list and to be entered in the Fiskafriends' sponsored giveaways, leave a comment on any of the listed blogs and follow the sponsor giveaway entry directions at: http://fiskafriends.blogspot.com/ 

     Now, for my own giveaway. I have an e-book copy of my latest children's book, "Max, the Boy Raindrop" in which I created all the illustrations using only paper/cardstock and scrapbooking tools. I will also include a fun border punch from EK Success to send to one of my followers (US residents only). Join my blog and your name will go in the drawing. Let me know in your comment that you joined. If you are already a member of my blog,  tell me so and your name will go in as well. I will draw a name for my personal giveaway on Wednesday, April 1st.  Check back in to see if you are the winner. You'll have two weeks to contact me with mailing info.

 

Stacia #9314 is up next:   http://www.stampzone.blogspot.com

Start here: http://fiskafriends.blogspot.com/ 

1. Jean Bullock, #8889,  http://ez3dpopups.blogspot.com 
2. Susan Slomski, #6150,  http://sueinct.blogspot.com 
3. Cindy deRosier, #4113, http://www.cindyderosier.com
4. Tifany DeGough, #5942, http://inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com 
5. Cheryl Waters, #002, http://blog.artsyfindings.com
6. Jean Marmo, #7358, http://pagesintime.blogspot.com/
7. Teresa Godines #6857 http://purplebunnypapercrafts.blogspot.com/
8. Michelle O'Driscoll #7586 http://scrapbookingsos.blogspot.ca/
9. Nancy Carroll  #11488  http://nancecarroll.blogspot.com
10. Maya Oren-Dahan #351  http://mayadahan.blogspot.com
11. Amy Martin Jones #8546 http://thetigershaven.blogspot.com/
12. Karen Poirier-Brode (Ladydoc) #2858 http://www.karenscorneroftheweb.blogspot.com
13. Tanya Napier #5407  http://mamabirdy-happinessishomemade.blogspot.com/
14. Pamela Haskin #8040 www.cottagebelow.com  (You are here.)
15. Stasia Sloma #9314 http://www.stampzone.blogspot.com
16. Tracy Moloney  #6773 http://tracyscraftyadventures.blogspot.com.au/
17. Kim Chenez #5612 http://scrapbooknstampingfun.blogspot.com/

 

       Here's what I used to make my cards:

          cardstock: white, pink, green the Paper Studio

          patterned paper: pink gingham, the Paper Studio

          die-cuts: overlay and oval layer, Spellbinders 5x7 Heirloom Legacy

                            vine, Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage

          punches: EK Success lattice chain and corner rounder

          stamps: Paper Smooches Easter Blessings

                          Our Daily Bread Designs Earth Verses

          flowers: Prima Marketing

          brads: Recollections

          ink: black pigment, ColorBox

          embossing powder: clear, Ranger

May the Lord be glorified by the work of my hands, 

                             Pamela

                

WINNERS

* * * WINNERS * * *

I have two winners to announce today!

First, the winner from this past weekend's Fiskars Spring Blog Hop is

Lesa from Alabama who said,

Oooooh, I love what you did with your punches! Love the flowers. I'm now a new follower and looking forward to seeing what you do next : )

I promised that once I got 25 followers that I would have a giveaway. Well, thanks to this weekend's blog hop that number has been exceeded. The winner of that giveaway is

 

 

Penny #7765 from Ohio who said,

I am your fifth follower. Thanks for an opportunity to win.

Congratulations ladies!

Please send me your addresses and I'll have your surprises in the mail soon. (Lesa, I already have your info.)

 I love giving surprises and gifts more than anything else so keep watching my blog. I'll think of a fun challenge and have another giveaway soon.

GIVEAWAY!!

Don't forget that I'm having a GIVEAWAY! As soon as I get 25 followers I will draw a name to get 2 clear stamps and 2 diecut folders and more. I know some have signed up for email notification but you must click on "Join this Site" and then you will be an official follower. Looking forward to mailing your box of goodies out. Thanks for checking out my blog even if you do not sign up to follow.

Happy New Year

* * * Happy New Year * * *

I just want to wish all of you a happy, healthy new year. I hope 2012

brings lots of health and honor and joy to you and those you love.

I'll have more cards up soon and will do some tutorials for some of the techniques I use in my cards. I just got the ability to make video so check back in soon.

I will also be having a giveaway of some stamps and dies as soon as I have 25 followers signed up. So spread the word and I'll randomly draw a name from all who sign up to follow my blog. Good luck!