Winter Warm Up Blog Hop!

There is an awesome crop going on over at CardSwaps this week. Challenges and games will be posted February 8-11, 2012 and you have until February 14, 2012 to get your projects posted to the appropriate thread. If you haven't participated before, don't worry! There are many members and myself that will be around to offer support and encouragement. You can find out all you need to know in the forum. So... AFTER the hop... you will be taken to the crop and I do hope you join in. If you can't wait, go ahead and check it out... but COME BACK. There is a prize on the line for blog hoppers and you don't want to miss out. You will be given details at the bottom of the post. Don't skip ahead!!! Please read my babbling.

The blog hop "theme" goes with the crop title of "Winter Warm Up". We pretty much left the type of project the hostesses of the blog hop created open. We also left sentiment and type and all that "open". The only requirement was that the completed item had to make you smile and bring some warm, fuzzy feelings to the cold, cold Winter months. If you live in an area where your Winter doesn't get cold.... well... you don't live in Mid-Missouri!

When I think about ways to warm up during the Winter, the first thing I think of is a blanket! But, I didn't want to make a card with a blanket on it. I also love chatting with friends and carving out some time to craft with my favorite papercrafters... whether that is online or in real life. I have papercrafting buds all over the world... thanks to CardSwaps.

The card I created is dedicated to those friendships that give me warm, fuzzy, happy feelings. I do need to interject one comment here, though. It isn't just my bestest bud girlfriends that make me smile. I consider my husband my best friend in the world. He's definitely the one I turn to and he's always available for a quick rant or cheer. Anyway, carrying on, I thought about the girly girl stuff that makes best girlfriends special. They are the ones you can be frilly or not so frilly with. Those friendships should be treasured for all times. I also want to mention that I am very fortunate to have a Mom, Sister, Sister-in-Law, nieces, and Mother-in-law that I consider friends along with the other relationships. I also hope that my stepdaughter feels that I can add her to my list of great friends!!

Without further ado, here is the card I created. I decided to add tons of detail, because the best friendships I have had and have involve a lot of detail. We have been through a lot together.

Supplies: 

Cardstock (SU!, Bazzill, Recollections)
Patterned Paper (SU!)
Border punches (SU!)
Ribbon (Bazzill)
Pearls (Kaisercraft)
Flowers (amazing Cutie dies from Cheery Lynn Designs)
Silhouette grouping (Cricut Forever Young)
Scotch ATG adhesive, Glue dots, and Quickie Glue from Sakura
Glitter Gel Pen from Sakura
Ink (SU!)

So... the game for hoppers... You will be unscrambling a word once you will collect a letter at each blog you visit. The hostesses can play along, because they don't know any of the letters but their own... I'm tricky that way. Once you collect ALL the letters, the last hostess in the blog hop will direct you to the thread in the forum where you can find all the details you need to enter the drawing. All hoppers collecting all the letters, unscrambling the word or phrase, entering the game by following the directions in the forum, and leaving feedback on EVERY blog they visit WILL be entered in to a random drawing held on February 15, 2012. ONE lucky hopper will have their name drawn and will win a prize!! Fun, right?? So, make sure you visit every blog and find the letters. Your only hints are... it's a phrase and it's a way papercrafters warm up.

OK... You arrived here from CardMaker's blog, I hope. If not, go back and check out their blog and collect your letter. Then collect my letter and hop on, my friend.

My letter is... S

The list of hoppers, in case you get lost.

CardMaker: http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/?p=1256
Lora: http://www.lorabrinkman.com/2012/02/winter-warm-up-blog-hop.html <-- You are HERE! :-)
SusieQ: http://lilbitofme-susan.blogspot.com/2012/02/welcome-you-are-on-cardswaps-winter.html
Laura: http://ljjonescircus.blogspot.com/2012/02/winter-warm-up-with-cardmaker-magazine.html
Marlene: http://marlenescubbyholecreations.blogspot.com/2012/02/welcome-to-cardswaps-blog-hop.html
Jane: http://jane-notsuchaplainjane.blogspot.com/2012/02/welcome-to-winter-warm-up-crop.html
Golda: http://goldapete.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/winter-warm-up-blog-hop/
Angelina: http://angel-artdesign.blogspot.com/2012/02/winter-warm-up-blog-hop.html
Tina: http://tina-craftingkewpie.blogspot.com/2012/02/winter-warm-up-crop.html
Judy: http://prairiewildflowerpapercrafts.blogspot.com/2012/02/winter-warm-up-blog-hop.html
Ivanka: http://ivankascardstudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/cardmaker-winter-warm-up-blog-hop.html
Teresa: http://www.tickellexpressions.blogspot.com/2012/02/card-swaps-winter-warm-up-crop-and-blog.html
Ana: http://anaggarciam.blogspot.com/2012/02/winter-warm-up-blog-hop.html

The next stop on your hop today is SusieQ's blog. It love her cards and design. I'm sure she has a great project to warm us up. Hop on, blog hopping friend!!