BFF Open House Link Party#35 Wrap Up And Features: Giving Back Edition

Thanks to everyone who linked up to the first BFF Open House Link Party of 2012 and the 35th weekly BFF Open House here at The Answer Is Chocolate!

As always, some fantastic ideas were shared,  but  this week’s features all share a common theme. One thing I love about crafters, artists, and creative people is the willingness to share those talents for good causes. I always love  “crafting for a cause” and will be looking for more opportunities to do so in 2012.

Mary, aka “Mrs. Redo” shared a project that still has me emotional because I know someone who’s been affected by the cause she and her family have crafted for: Domestic Violence.

You can visit her blog to learn more about “Operation Comfort Doll” , dolls made to give women in shelters escaping from Domestic Violence. Each doll comes with this note:

"I am a Comfort Doll. I was made especially for you

by a woman's heart and hands who cares. 

When you need strength or just a smile,

hold me and feel the love I send.

Like me, you are unique, worthy, beautiful,

and deserve all good things in life.

You have the strength within yourself to be extraordinary.

Find the strength and shine!

Comfort Dolls - created with our hands - 

given with our hearts."

Michelle over at Faith Trust and A Little Pixie Dust shared the way she chose to celebrate reaching 500 Followers on her blog. Michelle collected and donated coats for a local  shelter providing temporary housing to families. Michelle did this in honor of her readers! OK trying not to cry here!

Those are some of the coats in the background, and that’s Michelle. How special is this?! As one of her readers,  I feel so humbled by her thoughtfulness and generosity.


I know that in times of sadness, creating something has been healing for me. Karin, over at Art Is Beauty, recently had a dear friend of hers lose a brother to suicide.  Turning this tragedy into something healing, the family started a suicide prevention awareness foundation in his name. Karin created this beautiful piece of art that will be part of an auction to raise money for this foundation:

These things just spoke to me as needing to be shared. Like our favorite Super Heroes, we can use our talents for good! I know these ladies have done just that and I am so honored they shared their generosity at my little link party.

Now where did I put my tights and cape?

BFF Open House Link Party #34: New Year's Eve Edition

I'm late to my own party! Welcome to the "I can't believe it's the last BFF Open House of 2011" link party! I want to kick off the party by expressing my gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has chosen to be a regular part of The Answer Is Chocolate. Blogging has been such a wonderful experience for me in 2011,  and it's because of the friendship, support, humor, creativity, generosity and talents of brilliant talented bloggers. You all enrich my life beyond measure and I can't wait to see what 2012 brings. 

Now, let's see what everyone's been up to. I've seen some wonderful New Year's Eve ideas that even an NYE Grinch like me can love, and I'm starting to get excited about the clean look that usually comes to my house after the holidays ( not the putting away of the decorations part!). If you made it, link it and no advertising or shops please. And what better time to make a new friend than the start of a New Year so won't you go and visit at least one other person? Party On!

PS Don't forget I have a giveaway going for My Memories Suite digital SW...seriously it's FREE and it's fun program to play around with.  

BFF Open House Link Party #73

TGI(almost)F! It has been a crazy week and that’s not likely to end any time soon. So, with mixed emotions , I’m going to accept some realities and limitations and discontinue the “Blog Feature” part of the BFF Open House Link party.

Please note:

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE FRIDAY PARTY!

And it will continue to go up Thus night. When I started my weekly link party I featured a new blog each week but with the party having grown and my blog having grown, I don’t have the bandwidth to keep up that part of it.

I absolutely still love discovering new and emerging blogs, and will continue to pay it forward in the blogosphere by sharing and promoting new blogs I discover, Just more likely on FB or Twitter and more randomly. I hope that won’t change anyone’s mind about visiting each week and linking up.

Again, I have NO plans to discontinue the party part! Thank you for understanding. With that, let’s see what everyone’s been up to this week. I’m seeing such amazing Halloween and Fall ideas. My work schedule hasn’t left me as much time or energy for crafting as I”d like and you all sharing your links here feeds that hole in my creative soul so thank you for choosing to link up each week.

BFF Open House Link Party #34 Wrap Up and Features

Welcome 2012! I hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year’s. Ours was a quiet evening at home trying hard to stay awake until the countdown but we did it!

The last BFF Open House of 2011 was, as always, a fun one with lots of creativity shared. Here are just a few highlights:

New Year’s may be over but there’s always a need for creative party ideas. Homespun With Love shared these great New Year’s horns that could easily be adapted to birthday parties or other celebrations in 2012:

I’ve seen some great tea staining ideas but Lynette from Casa de Luna offers a new twist by tea staining lampshades for a fantastic chandy makeover.

This is the time of year where my thoughts ( THOUGHTS not always actions!) turn to organizing.

Donna at loopyloopcreations has a bright and simple idea that makes storage pretty and practical.

And finally, Katie from Creatively Living, shows how to take two wall sconces and turn them into one piece of fabulous:

You really have to see how this started out!

Thanks as always to everyone who linked up and look forward to seeing your creativity at this week’s BFF Open House.

PS The winner of the My Memories Suite digital software is :

Marilyn from The Artsy Girl Connection! 

BFF Open House Link Party#28 and BFF c.w. frosting

Happy Friday Eve everyone! It’s once again time for the weekly Open House Blog Feature Friday link party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. To new guests at the Open House and to those who drop by regularly, welcome.

This week let me introduce you to Caroline from the blog c.w. frosting. You might remember her from the Wrap Up and Features from last week’s party. She’s the creator of this amazing bicycle wreath:

She’s got some other brilliant creations and can you believe that she whips these up while preparing to become a med student?!

Love these rufflekins that would be great on a Thanksgiving table:

I especially love that they’re no sew!

Also no sew, and perfect for this time of year when we have things like gift cards to present, are these wonderful felt envelopes:

Definitely going to make some of these! Caroline’s got great tutorials for all of her projects but in addition to that, she is a blogger’s best friend because she also shares her technical talents on a section of her blog called “Design Lab”. There you can find things like really cool social media icons that Caroline’s made available for use and tutorials on things like how to use these cool drop caps:

 

Definitely need to learn this! So go visit Caroline and make sure to let her know you stopped by!
OK now you know the rules right? If you made it link it. Please link to your specific blog post and not your main page and no advertising or shops etc. Other than that, Party On!

BFF Open House Link Party #69 and BFF "I Gotta Try That"

Welcome to the first link party of September! Time is just going to speed up (even faster) from here on out. Now that Summer’s done, I’m going to bring back the blog feature part of the BFF Open House, so let’s get right to it. This week’s BFF is Marcie from I Gotta Try That.  Marcie is a mom of five and a grandmother of six soon to be seven and believe me, you would NEVER guess that from her profile pic. She loves to create and when she see's something, well you get where the name of her blog comes from:

I’m totally getting in the mood for Halloween and Marcie has got a fantastic series going right now so if you’re looking for some inspiration, she’s got you covered. Let’s start with this easy and inexpensive Swamp Slime Martini.

Non-alcoholic and totally fun.

Or how about this “Wicked” glow in the dark tutu Trick or Treat bag! Complete with legs!

And this super easy but perfectly spooky Skeleton Frame. Love!

I hope you’ll go share some bloggy love with Marcie.

Now, let’s get to this week’s party!

BFF Open House Link Party #100 !

Welcome back and welcome to first time linker uppers to the BFF Open House Link party here at The Answer Is Chocolate. So glad to have you! Can you believe this is my 100th link party?! Me either. Thanks to everyone for making this weekly get together so much fun. 

We will get right to our features from last week's party and then see what everyone's been up to this week. 

I love book page projects and flowers and Diane from An Extraordinary Day has combined them into one project featuring an actual tree branch. 

Despite the fact that technology dominates our communication these days, "snail mail" is still very much a reality. Doreen from Altered Artworks, turned a thrift store find into a fabulous mail station. 

Fonda from Southern Scraps transformed some ordinary bottles of soap into extraordinary gifts. Perfect with Mother's Day coming up or just to spruce up your own bath or powder room. 

I debated about including this amazing "Cars" cake by Michele at The Scrap Shoppe only because a certain big kid in my life whose initials are Mr. Chocolate is a HUGE "Cars" fan and might expect me to replicate this. If that happens, I'm calling you Michele! You have got to check out the whole party !

So now let's see what everyone's been up to this week. Following's not a requirement to join the fun but I do love finding new blogs and follow back so if you are a new follower, please be sure to leave a comment. 

BFF Open House Link Party #86: First One of 2013

Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to my 86th BFF Open House Link Party, the first one of 2013!

I'm so excited to meet new friends, and see what everyone's been up to over the holidays. I'm already seeing Valentine's ideas ( you're WAAAAYYYYYY ahead of me!) and anticipating a bumper crop of crafty goodness from all of our favorite companies judging from the sneak peeks I see from CHA on Facebook.

For those who may be new, the party goes up "Friday Eve" aka Thursday night around 5PM Pacific. It's up all weekend so if you don't have something to post right away, you can always add it throughout the weekend. Features are posted each Monday. You don't have to be a follower to link up but I'd love to have you follow so I can follow you back and keep up with your creations outside the party.

I've been having fun playing with My Memories Suite digital software so I created a new "link party rules" graphic for the New Year. OK here we go!

BFF Open House Link Party #35 and BFF The Messy Roost!

Welcome to the 35th BFF Open House Link Party and the first one of 2012!

I’m looking forward to another fun year seeing what everyone’s up to and being creatively inspired by you all. I had some much fun meeting new bloggers in 2011 and am looking forward to making many new “BFFs” in 2012.

To start the year off right, let me introduce you to the first Blog Feature Friday guest of 2012, Rhonda from The Messy Roost!

I love how she describes her blog so I’ll let her do it:

I believe people are born organized. I, however, was not. Please join me in my quest to turn my Messy Roost into a Tidy Coop.

Rhonda has shared some great projects at previous parties. Here are just a few of her creations. You can get a jump start on Christmas cookie gifts / exchanges by saving cans throughout the year and then dressing them up like Rhonda did:

I’d be thrilled just getting an empty can!

I love this Christmas tree idea she did and it’s all from hole punched holes! I could see doing this idea in other shapes and on cards etc.

Beyond Christmas, I just can’t get enough of topiaries and Rhonda has a wonderful tutorial for how she made these:

And I love how she did this coffee filter wreath and mounted it on a board:

I really don’t believe her roost is messy at all! I hope you’ll go by and visit and say hi to Rhonda!


Now, let’s see what everyone’s been up to in the new year. Just a few rules. Not too many! If you made it , link it. Please no advertising or promotions. And please link to your specific post page. That’s it. Well besides going and visiting other party goers but that goes w/out saying! Party On!

BFF Open House Link Party

Happy New Year all! I am "I remember Y2K years old" and it's amazing to me to realize TWO decades have now gone by! Welcome to the first BFF OPEN HOUSE of 2020! Thank you to everyone who partied here throughout 2019! One of my goals for 2020 is to make more time to create. There's never enough time for that right?

Let's see some ideas from last week's party: 

Holidays don't take a break. I have 6 birthday cards to make for January and February and Valentine's Day are right around the corned. Check out these adorable mini gumball machines from White House Crafts! 

While this is a Christmas Gnome from Kippi At Home, I think it's also adorable for Valentine's Day. I have a thing for gnomes so having them out all year long is no issue for me! 

Here's another Christmas idea that can be re-purposed for Valentine's Day. Check out these Peppermint Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies from The Kitchen Is My Playground. Package them in a cute Valentine tin or box and voila!

OK let's see what everyone's been up to! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BFF Open House Link Party #108

<div align="center"> <a href="http://answerischoco.com" title="The Answer Is Chocolate"><img src="http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff511/AnswerIsChoco/TAICFloralGreyBFF_zpsda8da5db.jpg" alt="The Answer Is Chocolate" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Welcome to the first BFF Open House Link Party of JUNE! Say it with me: "JUNE"! YIKES. School's out or getting out, graduation and wedding season, Father's Day (10 Days people!) and before you know it, Fourth of July. 

Let's take a peek at some of the great ideas shared at last week's party: 

If school's not yet out for you and you need a great teacher's gift, check out this idea from Stephanie at The Silly Pearl. She's even got the printable to go with!

Michele from The Scrap Shoppe shows how easy it is to make your own jewelry with this fab chandelier necklace perfect for Summer. 

No it's not your eyes. Yes, it's Halloween! If we can do Christmas in July, why not Halloween in June? Ohio Farm Girl whipped up this great altered piece.

And this week's chocolate feature is from the ladies at Six Sister's Stuff/ My Recipe Magic. ROLO Stuffed Peanut Butter cookies! 

Now on to this week's party. Thanks again for spending part of your week here at The Answer Is Chocolate. 

   

    Loading InLinkz ...

   

BFF Open House Link Party #57 and Mod Podge Goodies Giveaway!

Happy almost Friday everyone and welcome to another BFF Open House. I am not featuring a blog this week but I do have a  very special treat for you!

Remember I got to review and giveaway a copy of Amy Anderson’s fantabulous new book: Mod Podge Rocks, Decoupage Your World?

Well the wonderful folks at Lark Crafts,  Sterling Publishing, and Plaid  are also giving one of my readers the chance to win a Mod Podge goodie bag that is so so so so and did I mention SO cool!

They have this packed so nicely that I didn’t want to undo it to take pictures but I can tell you that this includes:

• A Mod Podge Tee Shirt!
• Sampler pack of Mod Podge finishes
• Glitter Dimensional Magic
• The BRAND NEW Podgeable acrylic shapes
• Podgeable Papers
• A Mod Podge Brayer for smoothing out those bubbles

The giveaway will be open through Friday June 15, and here’s how you can enter to win (US and Canada residents only). Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Now let’s see what you creative people have been up to this week.

Party On!

BFF Open House Link Party #27 and BFF Days of Chalk and Chocolate

Welcome to the first BFF Open House link party of NOVEMBER! Less than three weeks til Thanksgiving and then….OK I won’t say it. Hopefully everyone’s recovered from Halloween.

This week, I’d like to introduce you to Jenny from the blog Days of Chalk and Chocolate, another blogger whose crafty creativity is fueled by her love of chocolate. She’s also a wife, mom, and part time elementary school teacher. And if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, she’s recently been through a move! Here are just a few peeks into Jenny’s wonderful creations:

Love the chocolatey brown of this table runner which is made from napkins!

Or this gorgeous ruffled wreath:

And even though one of her little ones thinks she makes too many pillows, I think she should keep making them if they’re as fantastic as this one:

But where’s the chocolate you ask? Right here I answer. How perfect are these for the holiday season? Hot cocoa cupcakes!!

Aren’t they wonderful? I hope you’ll go visit Jenny and check out some of her other creations!

Now, let’s see what everyone’s been up to this week! Party On!

BFF Open House Link Party#24 and This Week’s BFF: Art Is Beauty!

Hi all and thanks for joining me for another BFF Open House! Last week’s party had the MOST links ever. A big thanks to everyone who links up regularly and to those who came for the first time. And a big thanks to all of those who have recently become followers of The Answer Is Chocolate!

This week I’d like to introduce you to the wonderfully talented Karin from the blog Art Is Beauty. One trip to Karin’s and you’ll see her blog is aptly named. Let’s take a peek:
This gorgeous coffee table started out as a very ordinary Goodwill find:

I love the colors Karin chose and the stencil design down the middle. Some of Karin’s other transformations incorporate our shared appreciation of lovelies found over at  The Graphics Fairy. Like these pillow cases ( another Goodwill find) that are simply mahvelous!

And tis the season to be Spooky:

And you know I kinda have a thing for bottles so these definitely caught my eye!

You’ll find lots of tempting transformations over at Art Is Beauty, so I hope you will go and visit Karin soon.

Now on with the party. Simple. If you made it, link it! Please link to your specific blog post and not your main page and go visit a few links and make some new BFFs!