BFF Open House Link Party #48 Wrap Up and Features

No you’re not confused. I am going to switch things up a bit and start posting the features from Friday’s link party on Sunday vs Monday. Or… you’re confused!

Another great party and I hope you all enjoyed meeting Jen from My Scrappy Chic!

Let’s take a look at a few really cool things that were shared:

Earth day is later this month ( April 22) and I am all for using fewer chemicals wherever I can. I have asthma and get migranes and a lot of the commercial cleaning products set both of those off. Deana from Country Mama Cooks has some great ideas for natural cleaning products that I definitely want to try:

MUST try this one! She’s got a whole series on a greener home that’s worth checking out.

Speaking of nature, Kristina from ReMadeSimple, shared a wonderful idea using twigs from her yard:



Just love the yellow and gray combo and the simple elegance of this.

Yes, this is known for being a chocolate fueled blog but you have got to see these amazing “Tres Limones” ( three lemon) cupcakes from Keri at Shaken Together:

Even I would forego a chocolate dessert for a bite of one of these!

Finally, being a paper addict, I couldn’t resist this paper lolly decorated frame from Ashley’s Dandelion Wishes:



Again, thanks everyone who linked up and hope to see you again on Friday! Make it a creative week!

BFF Open House Link Party #48 and BFF My Scrappy Chic!

Happy almost Friday everyone. I hope that the week has treated you well and all those pesky Peeps are gone for another year lol. I’m back on track with a new “BFF” this week!

Meet Jen from “My Scrappy Chic”. Like me, Jen is a paper addict ( we have to stick together) and her blog is devoted to her love of cardmaking, scrapbooking, and papercrafts.

She’s also a wife, a mom of two, and a Close to My Heart Consultant.

I love this gorgeous card Jen made. Tres chic:

Great textures, colors, and combination of embellishments. Speaking of embellishments., look at the detail she goes into on her beautiful scrapbook pages:

And like many of us, one crafty thing leads to another ( and another…and another….and another…oh we’re not talking about me!) so now Jen has the jewelry making / beading bug:

Can you believe that's her first jewelry project?!

I hope you’ll go over and visit Jen. Her blog is growing and I suspect she’s got lots of fun ideas in store!

Now, what’s everyone been up to this week? Before you know it, Mother’s Day, Prom, Graduation season and Father’s day will be upon us. Whatcha got planned??

You know the rules. If you made it, link it. Papercrafts, recipes, DIY, thrifty finds, upcycle, re-purpose….you name it. Just no shops or ads please and it’s a party so go visit a couple of new friends! Party On!

Yes, I Have A Paper Addiction Birthday Card

I fully admit to having a paper addiction. Mr. Chocolate might disagree but I actually do show some restraint! Since I don’t buy all of the paper that tempts me, I don’t feel so bad about the paper I do buy!

I couldn’t resist this stack from Recollections at Michaels (and of course it was 40% off!) . I love the colors, patterns, and textures. Perfect for a birthday card I needed to make!

The pink background paper I had in my stash. The green floral panel is from the Habitat stack.

The colors went perfectly with some KandCo Grand Adhesions birthday stickers I had on hand and some Studio G rhinestones from the Michaels 2 for $3 section.

I feel lazy using these stickers but they’re so detailed and complete that it would take forever to construct from scratch.

I finished with the Happy Birthday sentiment from the same pack of stickers, a paper flower from the paper scraps, and  rhinestone butterflies.

Field Trip: The Paper Cafe and Stampadoodle

So I really love it when my husband says let’s go for a drive. You might remember my last field trip to Shipwreck Beads. This weekend was a gorgeous PNW weekend and off we went in the opposite direction, North, and ended up in Bellingham, WA.

First I had a panic attack because we went to the location of an incredible stamp and paper store I’d previously visited and it was GONE! A quick phone search and my heart went back into its place. They’d moved. Whew!

The Paper Café and Stampadoodle is a must visit place if you’re ever in the Bellingham area. If you’re in the Vancouver BC area, it’s worth a trip across the border!

Basically, they have EVERYTHING a stamper, scrapbooker, mixed media artist could ask for. An array of handmade imported papers that will make you drool ( not on the paper of course!).

Rows and rows of stamps of every theme and design. Wood mounted ( shown here) and a wall of cling stamps. And what are stamps without 12x12 papers and embellishments? They’ve got you covered there too with the BEST selection of Graphic45, and Canvas Corp papers I've seen at any of my local stores.

The best part is that the owners and team know their products. While it’s true you can score deals at the big box stores and not gonna lie, that’s where I do a lot of my shopping, it is wonderful to be in a space where you know people are truly using the stuff they sell. A lot of the artwork on display in the store is done by the owner Wendy. I do wish I lived close enough to get to some of their many classes and workshops.

They have the biggest collection of Cuttlebug embossing folders I’ve seen anywhere and a fantastic selection of Tim Holtz products:

I just loved wandering throughout the store, taking in all of the incredible products in one place! When my go to place for basics like card stock and envelopes closed earlier in the year, I stocked up but have been looking for where I’d get these once I run out. Stampadoodle to the rescue! They are now carrying a lot of these same products. Yeah!!

I introduced myself to Wendy and told her I was a blogger but I am blogging about Stampadoodle because I am in total love with this store. Wendy and Steve have put together not only a great mix of products but a wonderful space where groups of creative people can come to create ( or spouses can sit and read while their creative other half tries to show some restraint in buying stuff!).

This is a must stop place if you’re anywhere nearby!!

Like a kid in a candy store. OK like me in a chocolate store! 

BFF Open House Link Party #47 Wrap Up and Features

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter and Passover weekend. Thanks so much for a great turnout at Friday’s party and as always some inspired ideas. Here are just a few:

From the department of YUM, Back for Seconds linked up this incredibly tempting Banana Fudge Brownie Pie:


Who wouldn’t be back for seconds, thirds, fourths of this?


This time of year seems to kick off a run of parties…end of school, graduation etc. I love this creative and inexpensive party favor idea from Shaken Together that has so many possibilities:

Keri has a great tutorial and love what she used to make the  “popcorn”. Wouldn't this be fun for a movie themed or Oscar party?

I’m always in awe of the thrifty finds you all discover. Jamie from The Creative Imperative scored BIG for $15 and then did an even bigger transformation. Take a look at this piece:

And from big to little but with big impact, Janet from Janet of All Trades made the most adorable ribbon straight pins which I definitely need to make because I am forever losing pins!

Plus I can see these as great card, scrapbook, altered art embellishments.

Thanks to everyone who linked up and hope to see you again on Friday. Make it a creative week!

Wishing You A Happy Easter

HAPPY EASTER

BFF Open House Link Party #47: Eggs and Bunnies and Peeps Oh My

Confession time. I don't like Peeps. (ducking, imagining a barrage of incoming Peeps being thrown at me). I know...that seems somehow un American or un Easter-like or un-something. The little gooey things are everywhere and  I can't escape them. I think they exceed Twinkies in shelf life.

Easter kinda snuck up on me this year and I even heard an ad on TV for MOTHER'S DAY! OK please slow down 2012.

Let's see what everyone's been up to this week. There were such great links last week you all have to top yourselves! I don't think that will be a problem. I really want to thank you for choosing to come play at my little party. I know it's not the biggest, but I kind of like this smaller more intimate gathering .

Rules are simple. If you made it , link it. Papercrafts, scrapbooking, cards, jewelry, upcycle, thriftcycle, DIY, recipes ( especially chocolate!), home dec, etc. Please just no ads or shops. Other than that...PARTY ON!