This coming Friday on July 1st, the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop is doing something special.  We have partnered with iLovetoCreate for July’s challenge! iLovetoCreate provided 30 designers from this group with Tulip’s Beads in a Bottle. We each used Beads in a Bottle to create a special project in our own style.

I can’t wait to see all of our completed projects on Friday, JULY 1ST, but if you want a sneak peek… here’s a YouTube Video preview.

And if that’s not enough… iLovetoCreate is having an awesome giveaway that some lucky winner will get their crafty hands on! Just check out this huge batch of goodies:

To find out how to enter to win, you need to get over to iLovetoCreate’s blog. Find out how to enter here!

That’s it for now….so get over to iLovetoCreate’s blog and then make sure you come back here on Friday to see all the amazing projects!

Sending out a huge thank you to all who have served in the military. Having visited other countries, I sure appreciate living here and the freedoms we enjoy. The military life is not an easy one, but one I feel blessed to be part of because of all of the amazing people we met and still have as friends. You guys are my heroes (especially the one I married and two I gave birth to). Go Army and Coast Guard!

Here’s a Patriotic Banner I designed for the Buttons Galore and More blog. Hop on over to see how to make it.

Enjoy your day off. We’re celebrating with a cookout and some relaxing. It’s supposed to be 97 degrees… time for the AC.

Just a quick post to let you know that Amy Powers’ Happy Birthday magazine is published and available for download. I am totally impressed by her talent. She put a 245 page idea book together in just a two months and every turn of the page is a delight! I saw her previous “Spring” issue on Facebook and thought it sounded cool so I followed the link, paid my $3.30 and downloaded it. What a treat- talk about eye candy!

Loved the look of it so much, I decided to see if I could submit something for her next issue and contacted Amy. In the course of our conversation, I discovered that she actually lives right down the road from me! We are going to get together at some point and meet in person.

I promise you will not regret getting this magazine- it is so worth it! Follow the link above and let me know what you think… And don’t forget to check out pp. 186-191- you might know that designer 🙂 What is your favorite project? What was your favorite birthday memory? 

Today is a hop with my Designer Connection friends! See the blue logo on the sidebar?  Click on it (back or forward) and you will be taken around the webring of blogs of participating designers. Those taking part in this hop have been busy creating their latest and greatest so you won’t want to miss this. All of the projects posted today celebrate this busy time of year, so you will get lots of inspiration. I’m going to try to get this gift for Mom in the mail tomorrow (she will be in shock if she sees a package from me before the actual event!).

Does your mom enjoy a nice cup of tea? Mine is more of a coffee drinker, but on occasion, she will get the teakettle going. This project was made using my Sizzix ScoreBoard Teacup die. This would be great to give this to your mom loaded up with teabags, small gifts, jewelry, or a gift card to the spa. 

Here’s a quick peek. It’s still a surprise so don’t tell :-). Later this week I will post instructions and share some of the cool techniques (like how to make that fun flower and glittery stem). Thanks for dropping by and hope you will check out the Designer Connection!

I have such talented friends! Here’s a project done by fellow designer Gabriela Delworth, who has used my Sizzix ScoreBoard Cupcake Ruffle die to make a mouth watering cupcake for Mom on her special day. She embellished the matboard holder with beautiful pressed flowers. Lucky Mom!

Sterling has just released Gabriela’s Flower and Leaf Press book kit. The book includes 12 projects using dried flowers. The kit also comes with an actual flower press so you can create the projects yourself. Knowing Gabriela and her attention to detail, this book kit is a winner and sure to have beautiful photos and projects!

Be sure to check out Gabriela’s blog for lots more cool ideas.

More news coming this week- stay tuned, my friends! Hope you are enjoying the nice weather…