Jo's Scrap Shack's Happy New Year Blog Hop!!

Hello Friends!

With another year coming to an end, it is time to reflect on all the wonderful things that have happened in our lives this past year. It is time to remind ourselves of what we have achieved, what struggles we have had to overcome and what amazing new friends that have come into our lives through the wonderful world of blogging. It is also that time of the year where we are planning to attend New Year's Eve parties and festivities with friends and family to welcome in the new year that awaits us ahead. Take this time to think about what you want to accomplish in the new year, what goals you want to set, any resolutions you want to seek out and what plans you have for your blogs and readers.

 So come along and hop with my design team girls, some friends & myself as we celebrate and ring in the new year with a special blog hop to help get the festivities started!!!!

Happy 2014 & welcome to 3 Twenty Craft's "Ringing in the New Year Blog Hop"!

Today's blog hop is very exciting full of awesome projects to help inspire your creativity for the new year and to help you reflect on this past year and all the wonderful blog hops that you have participated in and hopped along with! Make sure you visit each blog on the hop and leave a comment letting us know how you plan to ring in the new year for your chance to win a set of 3 Twenty Crafts Stamps!

If you arrived here from Amanda at http://www.craftsbyamanda.blogspot.com/ then you are on the right track. If you have not arrived from Amanda's blog, then head over to

 Jo's Scrap Shack and start at the beginning.

Here is my project for this hop:

I used 3 Twenty Crafts border stamps with Versamark and embossed them with white and sparkly clear SU embossing  powders.  I wrote "2014" with an old Creative Memories silver pen in between the lines of the one border stamp. My banner die, shoe die and little Polaroid die came from My Creative Time. I used the "happy harvest" 3 Twenty Stamp set for my wine bottle and glass stamped with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder. My "2014" are old Creative Memories stickers that I stuck to the banner.  

Well my friends, I hope you have enjoyed my project. I want to wish you a very happy and safe new year! Your next stop is Candice at  stampinpearls.blogspot.com/ .  Remember to leave a comment on each blog letting us know how you plan on ringing in 2014 for your chance to win! The winner will be announced on January 3rd!

Enjoy hoppin and Happy New Year! 

Here is the line up in case you get lost:

Joann-Start of hop- http://www.jwscrapshack.blogspot.com/

Amanda- http://www.craftsbyamanda.blogspot.com/

This is me! Brenda- http://www.friendscraftinwithfriends.blogspot.com/

Candice- http://www.stampinpearls.blogspot.com/

Kellie- http://alittlebitofkellie.blogspot.com/

Tina C.- http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.com/

Tina M.- last stop of the hop-http://denamiaddict.blogspot.com/

Tag, your it!! BBTB2 Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, the count down is on-I can't believe it is almost Christmas and this elf still has lots to do! But I've adopted the idea of what gets done gets done and what doesn't doesn't. lol And if I run out of time, I will just buy some sweets if I have to. I'm not superwoman so I'm not going to break my neck this year with all that we have going on with dear hubby. So how are you doing at getting Christmas all wrapped up? Pun intended! lol

Ok on to our new BBTB2 challenge. Our sweet and talented Laura is hosting this tag challenge cause we all need tags for those fabulous gifts don't we?!! Well my tags are totally lifted from Pinterest. lol Here are the tags from Pinterest:

 I didn't "crinkle" up my ribbon on mine, forgot to do that, but still like how they turned out. I will be able to write the name of the person on the front of the tag up in the vanilla area and will sign our names on the back of the tag. Mine are not exactly like those above, but still turned out cute anyway I think. I used George and Basic Shapes for my wonky circles, oh why oh why can't the Cricut cut a perfect circle and scallop?!! And Mini Monograms for my wonky scallop and the SU punch tab for the top tab. I cut the pattern paper circles in half with just 2 giving me enough for 4 tags.

And here is a non Cricut tag that I lifted from Pinterest too, I did these for the grand-kid's presents only instead of hand drawling the face I used a Peaky Keen face. I think these are so adorable!! I also used a tag from My Creative Time and the Cuttlebug die of assorted snowflakes. I was able to use all scraps to make this little guy, isn't he just adorable?! Here is the Pinterest tag and then my tag. Once again my tag isn't exactly like the Pinterest one because I had forgotten to keep my little hat band longer on each side, but I still think he is cute and the grand-kids won't know the difference. lol Next time I will keep the "roll" on the hat band a little longer. I took advantage of the had band to write the names of our grandchildren on and then signed the back of the tags.

I hope you have enjoyed my tags for today and that you will go check out what inspiration my design team sisters have for you, I promise you won't be disappointed!! Then why not link up with us with your Cricut tags! Remember you must use your Cricut when playing along with our challenges as we are a Cricut based challenge. Thank so so much for visiting me during this busy season, I so love when you stop by for a spell. Crafty hugs, Brenda 

Winter! Jo's Scrap Shack Funday Friday Challenge

Hi my crafty friends, I hope you are having a fabulous Friday. Can you believe Christmas is so close?!!! Yikes!! I'm so not ready!! But ready or not it's coming so I guess we will go with what I have done and that will be that!

As you know if it is Friday then it is time for a new challenge over at Jo's Scrap Shack. Our theme was chosen by my talented design team sister, Amanda and she chose the theme winter. Well it is in full swing here in Central PA! Our sponsor for this challenge is Stamp Art! So go check out the inspiration my design team sisters have for you and read our simple rules and then play along with us. You just may win some awesome digi's! 

I chose this cute little snowman and his cute birdie. I colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers and then fussy cut them out. My kraft card base is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4, I put a mat on from a paper pack that I got at Target. I took a 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 white mat and stamped the forest trees using a stamp set from a CTMH on the go kit, then I added my snowman and birdie and sentiment. I used some stickles for some glittery snow. Then I used a left over piece of pattern paper and used a Fiskar stamp for the inside greeting. That is it folks, it was a simple and fast card! As always thank you for taking the time to visit me, it was awful kind of you! Crafty hugs, Brenda

BBTB2 Challenge-Winter!

Hello my crafty friends, happy Monday to you all! Hubby and I are getting his third round of chemo this morning and while we are gone I am hoping that you will go check out this weeks challenge over at BBTB2. Our sweet and talented Sharon has given us the challenge of doing a winter project. Well I don't know about you all but that storm that made it's way across the country hit here yesterday and we got our first snow of the season. As a matter of fact hubby and I got in the hot tub while it snowed and boy was it delightful!  The snow is so beautiful when you don't have to drive in it. lol 

Ok for my project, you may have already seen one as I did the same project on Friday and you can see that one here. I made a card/candy box. lol I love making these. They are so fun to make! I didn't have any Dove chocolates, 12 fits in the box perfectly, so I just used what I had on hand for the picture. I will get some Dove chocolates later or the favorite candy of the person whom I give these too. I want to make a 5 for our boys to place their gift cards in and their favorite candy. I think these are also a fabulous "thinking of you" gift for teachers, mail personnel, etc...I used the Cricut cartridge Anna Griffith Winter Wonderland-thought it was a fabulous cart to use for a winter project and since it was snowing here, well I had to go with a snowflake. I cut out my snowflake layers out of glitter paper, hard to see in the photo but the blue/green layer and the white layer are glitter paper. I used SU papers for my inside and outside layers, SU framelits dies form my window and window layer, kraft card stock base, a silver pen for my stitching around my box window, MCT stitched tab die, MCT "It's a Magical Season" sentiment, MCT 4x3 journal die, and a CTMH stamps from a "on the go" kit. I think that is about it. Linda over at the Paper Boutique has a wonderful video tutorial on how to make this card/candy box if you want to make some for the holidays too. Now won't you go see what my fabulous design team sisters have for you? Then join us by linking up your Cricut winter project with us, you know we love when you get crafty with us! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and visit me today, I love when you do. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Funday Friday Challenge

Hello my crafty friends, happy Friday to you. I hope you are having a wonderful day today. Since it is Friday that means it's a new challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack. Our sponsors this week are Bugaboo and Paper Nest Dolls and we were to use this sketch. Well I messed up royally, I was supposed to use a Paper Nest Doll's digi and I didn't. I used a Bugaboo digi. So my apologies to Paper Nest Dolls. I love your digital images and wish I wouldn't have messed up on which image I was supposed to use. But since my project was done when I realized it, I didn't redo it. I went with what I had. Now this project idea certainly wasn't my idea, but I loved it so much that I just had to make one. I plan on making more. I saw this project here and yes there is a video too. Is it a card, is it a box, or is it a book??? Well I think it is all three! lol My size is the same as an A2 card, 4 1/4 x 5 1/2. Don't you just love it?!! I do too! I plan on making more because I think they make a great little "thinking of you" Christmas gift for teachers, mail person, bus driver, etc... You could also stick a gift card in with the candy. Now these 12 nuggets fit with some room to spare, but if you want to fill the box, use 12 Dove chocolates. I just used what I had on hand. I used the Bugaboo image, SU top note and SU Ornament  die and My Creative Time dies and stamps, Martha Steward branch punch and the Fiskar's apron lace punch. Please check out what inspiration my design team sisters have for you, you will be amazed! Then check out the prizes and link up with us. You know we love it when you get crafty with us. Thanks for taking the time to stop by today, I love it when you do. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Holiday Gift Container Challenge-BBTB2

Happy Monday my crafty friends! Today at BBTB2 the challenge is to make a holiday gift container and our sweet leader, Susan, gave us this challenge. Easy challenge, right?! Uh not so much for me. I just couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to do. Then I waited so long trying to decide, that I didn't have much time to get my challenge in. lol So I went with someone easy. I made a little box that I will either place an ornament in or else some candy and a gift card for our mail person. I used the CTMH Artiste cart to cut out this box, using a DCWV holiday stack from last year I think. I also used MCT's stitched rosette dies, scallop & stitched circle die, and all around the holidays stamp and die set on my little cracker box. Simple, but makes for a cute gift box. I used red and green twine to tie up the ends and a little walnut distress ink to ink around my edges.  It a nice sized box, I cut it on the recommended size of 11.50", so it will hold a nice ornament in it or even some good treats and a gift card. I hope that you will go see what awesome containers my design team sisters have for you-trust me you will be inspired!! Then go cut out a holiday container and link up with us. You know we always love it when you get crafty with us. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me today, if you have any question let me know. Crafty hugs, Brenda

Get in the Spirit! Funday Friday Challenge #28

Hello my crafty friends, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends! We had a low key Thanksgiving but it was very nice. Only 2 sons home this year but it couldn't have been more perfect. Hubby was feeling a little better from chemo and got to enjoy his meal and pie, so I was a happy camper. I hope those who chose to go Black Friday shopping got what they had their eye on and for those like me that would rather stay in enjoyed doing that too. Well you know if it is Friday then it is time for a Funday Friday at Jo's Scrap Shack. This week our sponsor is KennyK. He has some cute digis as well as some more "naughty-er" digi's. I'm not really into the naughty-er ones, but some do them up very well. I picked a cute little girl with cookies for Santa and colored her with my Spectrum Noir's. I used Jo's stamp set called "Tags and Trimmings" and "Borders" and you can get them at 3 Twenty Crafts, I stamped and cut out the snowflakes and the tag. I also used MCT Teeny Tag Holidays stamps for inside my tag and the "hohoho" came from the "Tags and Trimmings" set. My pattern paper is from an K&Company paper pack that I picked up at Target. Some sequins and that is about it! So go to see what inspiration my design team sisters have for you to help you get in the spirit and then link up with us-you know we love when you get crafty with us. Thanks for stopping by and visiting me today, I always love when you come and sit a spell.  Let me know if you have any questions. Crafty hugs, Brenda 

Winner's For Jo's Surprise Blog Hop!!

Hello my crafty friends! If you left comments for Jo's Surprise Blog Hop the winners are up. Please go to Jo's blog to see if YOU are a winner!!! Congrats if you are! Can't wait to see what you make with your set!!  And thank you so much for all the lovely comments, you guys are so wonderful! Crafty hugs-Brenda

BBTB2 Holiday Card Challenge!

Good morning my crafty friends, I hope your Monday is off to a great start! We are off for hubby's 2nd round of chemo, that will keep both of us busy for 5 hours. And while we are gone, I have a fabulous challenge for you by our own sweet and talented Michelle at BBTB2! She has challenged us to make a Holiday card for the upcoming Christmas season. Well I don't know about you, but I could use a hand in getting some more Christmas cards made. lol I do a mix of store bought cards and handmade cards. I used the Teresa Collins December 25th Cricut cartridge to do my card, the Martha Steward branch punch, my background paper and sequins came from Target, and I also used some Christmas red stickles. I used some left over gold glitter paper as well. I have no clue as to where I got my sentiment from, but it is one that I love. This is just a simple card with some extra matting. And even though it is simple, I love how it came out!  I hope you will go see what awesome inspiration my design team sisters have for you over at BBTB2 and then maybe join in with us, we love when you get crafty with us!!  As always thanks for stopping by and visiting me. I'm very thankful you stopped by today! Crafty hugs, Brenda

Thankful! Funday Friday Challenge and Update on Hubby

Happy Friday to you my crafty friends. Today is Funday Friday over at Jo's Scrap Shack. Before I get to my project for today, just want to give a little update on my hubby. His CAT scan showed that the cancer is on his lung now-about 2 inches long, up by the heart as well as a marble sized spot on his liver. It wasn't a shock to hear this as we knew the cancer cells spilled out into his abdomen but it still hit me like a ton of bricks. Hubby is in good spirits and is confident that the chemo will do what it needs to do to kill these cells. And if not kill them, keep them managed. So thank you for all who are keeping hubby in your prayers. Please keep praying. I believe in the power of prayer and I know that we aren't on this journey alone. Our family, friends and my internet buddies are helping us through this. It will be a long haul, but praying that it is going to be a successful one. 

Ok on to my project for today. We have two sponsors today, StampArt and Bugaboo. Our own sweet and talented designed team sister, Mary (Momma Mary to me), has chosen our theme and it is Thankful. I am so thankful to all who have been praying for my hubby and for my family! Since I'm on team B I was to use a Bugaboo digital image and I chose this cute little pilgrim. I colored her with my Spectrum Noir markers, then used snippets (as Momma Mary says) from the scrap piles for my layers. My "give thanks" sentiment on the turkey plate came from My Creative Time "Mixed Holiday Sentiments" stamp set and the "happy Thanksgiving" came from My Creative Time "Piles of Smiles" stamp and die set. For my label that I stamped the happy Thanksgiving on is also My Creative Time "Stitched XL Label Die".  That's it, sweet and simple but so thankful!  I hope you will go see what inspiration my design team sisters have for you as well and then join in with us. Thanks for stopping by and visiting me today, for that I'm thankful too! Crafty hugs-Brenda

Day 4 of Jo's Scrap Shack Surprise Blog Hop!

Welcome to our 4th and final day of Jo's Scrap Shack's Surprise Blog Hop! 

 All week long the design team and I have been showing the stamps from the new company 3 Twenty Crafts. We hope you have enjoyed hopping all week with us and enjoyed all the wonderful projects that the design team has created. Remember that the stamps you saw this week will be available to purchase today at 3 pm and will be shipping on Monday. 

Today we are showing you the new and awesome stamp set "Tags and Trimmings"

This is what I created using this stamp set.

I used the polka dot border from yesterday's set and stamp the top and bottom of my card, then I used white card stock and stamped the ornament all over making my own pattern paper. Then I stamped my tag with the sentiment and the little cute reindeer and added a liquid pearl. Quick and simple.

I made this cute banner using a banner die and another die for the center of the banner. Then used Jo's cute stamp set to begin decorating my banner pieces. I think this turned out so cute and think I will hang it in my bathroom for a little decoration on the mirror.

 My little banner hanging,  no your eyes aren't crooked, yes it is the banner hanging crooked. lol  Have questions? Just shout out here or email me, email is in my profile. 

Close ups

Well my friends that's my projects for today and this concludes our week long blog hop. I've had so much fun this week and I hope you did too!!

Just a reminder...In order to win Tags and Trimmings, visit each blog along the hop and leave a comment! Make sure you check Jo's Blog on Monday to see if you were one of the lucky winners of one of these awesome new stamp sets! Don't feel like waiting and want to grab you set of stamps now? Simply click here!

Soooo are you ready for some Blog Hopin' Fun???

Your next person on the hop is Candice but if you get lost along the way, just start at Jo's Scrap Shack at the beginning!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a great day!

Day 3 of Jo's Scrap Shack's Surprise Blog Hop!

Hello my crafty friends! Welcome to day 2 of Jo's Scrap Shack's surprise blog hop! 

 Today's hop is day 3 of a 4 day hop and the new launch and release of a brand new company called "3 Twenty Crafts"!

For those who missed the news yesterday, Jo has decided to launch her very own company & stamp line!!! It's so exciting, right?? Everyday we will show you a brand new stamp set from 3 Twenty Crafts and trust me, you don't want to miss this!

The stamp set that we show you each day will be given away to one lucky winner, but in order to win the set you must hop along and visit each design team member's blog, leave a comment and then comment on Jo's blog and let her know that you have completed the hop! The winner will be random and we have no idea which blog the winner will be chosen from.  So make sure you visit each blog and leave some bloggy love.

Today we are showing you the new and awesome stamp set, "Background Builders"

This is what I created using this stamp set.

I used 2 of Jo's border stamps to make my border on my card layer and then die cut my banner and balloons to add to my card. I love how this came out! The check border give such a masculine feel to this card I think and I love the border that looks like burlap or linen cloth-it works so well with the checked border!  I can see using this set of border stamps for lots of cards and even just using it to give texture to other images. Any questions please just me a shout out here or email me. 

Well my friends that's my projects for today.

Just a reminder...In order to win Background Builders, visit each blog along the hop and leave a comment! Also all four sets that will be released this week will be available for purchase on Thursday, November 21st at 3 pm and will ship out on Monday, November 25th!

Soooo are you ready for some Blog Hopin' Fun???

Your next person on the hop is Candice but if you get lost along the way, just start at Jo's Scrap Shack at the beginning!

Thanks so much for stopping by and hopping with us today and make sure to join us tomorrow for another sneak peek at another great stamp set by 3 Twenty Crafts!

Day 2 of Jo's Scrap Shack Surprise Blog Hop!

Hello my crafty friends! Welcome to day 2 of Jo's Scrap Shack's surprise blog hop! 

 Today's hop is day 2 of a 4 day hop and the new launch and release of a brand new company called "3 Twenty Crafts"!

For those who missed the news yesterday, Jo has decided to launch her very own company & stamp line!!! It's so exciting, right?? Everyday we will show you a brand new stamp set from 3 Twenty Crafts and trust me, you don't want to miss this!

The stamp set that we show you each day will be given away to one lucky winner, but in order to win the set you must hop along and visit each design team member's blog, leave a comment and then comment on Jo's blog and let her know that you have completed the hop! The winner will be random and we have no idea which blog the winner will be chosen from.  So make sure you visit each blog and leave some bloggy love.

Today we are showing you the new and awesome stamp set, "Winter Wonderland"

This is what I created using this stamp set.
A card and 4 tags!

For my card I used SU's Season of Style designer series paper, MS branch and snowflake punch and a tree from Winter Wonderland. I used TH distress inks and stamped my tree, alternating how I stamped it. It makes a chevron pattern! Isn't it so cool looking?!! I punched the branch punch on white paper and then inked them up in the distress ink. I also used glossy accents on my snowflakes and then sprinkled in SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter. On a gray piece of paper I stamped the sentiment from Winter Wonderland and hand notched each end. Cute hug?!

For this tag, I cut out my tag with a tag die and then stamped all the different snowflakes from Winter Wonderland in two distress ink colors. Stamped one of the "fancier" tree's and embossed it silver and then stamped it again on each side of the embossed one with distress ink.  I have to say these stamps are such a great quality that they stamp with distress ink perfectly! Simple but cute tag!

For this tag, I cut out 2 tags using tag dies, for the larger tag-I cut it again and layered it with SU's Season of Style designer series paper. On the small tag I stamped what I call a "traditional" tree on and then colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers. I used a pearl pen for my snow-love the effect it gave! Then I used some more snowflakes from the Winter Wonderland set to stamp around my tree. Stamped just "wonderland" on the bottom of the tag. Added the two tags together and there you have it! Another cute tag!

And for my last 2 tags, I used another tag die and cut out my tag on kraft paper. I embossed both trees, one gold and one white. Then stamps snowflakes around the trees once again. Using the same SU designer's paper pad, I cut the shadow for the tag and ran some fibers through. Yes, that is 4 cut tags ready to go! If you have any questions about my projects just drop me an email at bsl60 at embarqmail dot com. 

Well my friends that's my projects for today.

Just a reminder...In order to win Winter Wonderland, visit each blog along the hop and leave a comment! Also all four sets that will be released this week will be available for purchase on Thursday, November 21st at 3 pm and will ship out on Monday, November 25th!

Soooo are you ready for some Blog Hopin' Fun???

Your next person on the hop is Candice, but if you get lost along the way, just start at Jo's Scrap Shack at the beginnng!

Thanks so much for stopping by and hopping with us today and make sure to join us tomorrow for another sneak peek at another great stamp set by 3 Twenty Crafts!

Jo's Scrap Shack Surprise Blog Hop!

Hello my crafty friends! Welcome to Jo's Scrap Shack's surprise blog hop! Why a "surprise" hop? Well up until now it had to be kept as a surprise but today...is the day another dream comes true! 

Ready for the surprise? Today's hop is the first day of a 4 day hop and the new launch and release of a brand new company called "3 Twenty Crafts"!

Jo has decided to launch her very own company and stamp line!!! It's so exciting right?! Everyday we will show you a brand new stamp set from 3 Twenty Crafts and trust me you, don't want to miss this!

The stamp set that we show you each day will be given away to one lucky winner, but in order to win the set you must hop along and visit each design team member's blog, leave a comment and then comment on Jo's blog and let her know that you have completed the hop! The winner will be random and we have no idea which blog the winner will be chosen from.  So make sure you visit each blog and leave some bloggy love.

Today we are showing you the new and awesome stamp set, "Happy Harvest"

This is what I created using this stamp set. Little favors for the Thanksgiving table!

This is what the insides of my favors look like. I used Jo's "Happy Harvest" stamp set for my wine glass, wine bottle and turkey. I also used the leaf from this set to stamp my paper to cover my nugget. I used distress inks to distress the paper afterward and then wrapped it around the nugget. My wine glass and bottle I used glossy accents on. I colored all my images using my Spectrum Noir markers. I used a die for my tri fold card and a SU punch to punch out my "hole" for my nugget. 

This one is for my hubby. He is a farmer and grows corn, wheat and soybeans. I tried making my corn look like Indian corn. Since hubby is going through chemo he won't be up to eating a traditional Thanksgiving meal. We will eat whatever he can tolerate and that is ok because just being together on Thanksgiving is all we need. We are thankful that hubby's cancer was caught and is being treated. He isn't curable but is treatable. So this Thanksgiving is very special for us and all Thanksgiving after as well. 

This one is for my son who is a teenager and who can eat me out of house and home. lol  Are these too cute?! I have to tell you these stamps are such high quality and stamp so well! If you have any questions about my projects please email at bsl60 at embarqmail dot com.   I hope you get time to make something crafty for your Thanksgiving table!

Well my friends that is my crafty project for today. I sure hope you have enjoyed hearing the great news and I hope you are as excited as I about this awesome-ness. LOL

Just a reminder...In order to win Happy Harvest, visit each blog along the blog hop and leave a comment! Also, all four sets that are being released this week will be available for purchasing  on Thursday, November 21st at 3 pm and will ship out on Monday, November 25th!

Soooo are you ready for some Blog Hoppin' Fun???

Your next stop on the hop is Candice, but if you get lost along the way, just start at Jo's Scrap Shack at the beginning!

Thanks so much for stopping by and hopping with us today and make sure to join us tomorrow for another sneak peek at another great stamp set by 3 Twenty Crafts!