Welcome, Let's Scrap Blog Hoppers!

Please note that this is a "sticky" post which will remain at the top of my blog for the month of February. Please scroll down to see newer posts. Thanks!

Greetings from Iowa, right in the center of the United States! Welcome to your next stop (#44) in the Let's Scrap Blog Hop! 

If you came here from Kim's blog, then you are in the right place! If you did not, Mindi Brown is the first stop on the hop. She also has the complete hop order to help you find your way. Although you can start at any blog along the route, you don't want to miss any of the fun!

 From the name of my blog, you may have guessed that I love both crafting and kitties. My cats quite often assist me with projects, especially those involving ribbon, their specialty! :)

I am very excited to be a blog host for such a large and international blog hop. I love the idea that crafters around the world will be getting to know one another and sharing ideas! And what a privilege it is for me to be the HOP STOP between Kim and Carla, two very talented crafters from Australia and South Africa. You are sure to be inspired by their beautiful creations!

Here is the sketch I am showcasing for the hop:

This is such a versatile sketch that I know I'll be using it over and over, and I'm sure you will, too! This sketch is perfect for using up little strips of coordinating paper.

My first card was made primarily with October Afternoon products, mixed and matched from a few different lines. I started with the basic shape suggested by the sketch and built from there, choosing a soft color palette to work with the "memories" theme of my card. 

 Of course, I had to include a bit of twine, one of my favorite products at the moment! 

  

My second card was created completely from scraps, something I often challenge myself to do. As I was looking around my EXTREMELY TIDY desk (ahem!), I immediately spotted the leftover "You're a hoot" text from a recent We R Memory Keepers project, so I decided to make an owl card. (I love owls even more than twine!) I grabbed a few paper scraps in fall colors -- including some of my very favorite striped paper -- and one of my many owl stamps. To make a perch for the owl, I used my Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers twig and leaf die set.

 I added a button tied with a bit of natural twine, as well as a strip of cardstock punched to look like notebook paper -- a subtle nod to the notion of a "wise old owl". A bit of embossing and inking, and another card was done!

And now for the fun part! Here's the little prize package I'm offering for my random drawing -- a mix of October Afternoon goodies, including an adorable chipboard house album, rub-ons, rubber charms, an assortment of pretty ribbon, and a few other surprises, too!

It's easy to be eligible for my random drawing! Here are the 3 things you need to do:

1) Make sure you are signed up as a follower on my blog. Scroll up to the right-hand corner of this page and click on the JOIN THIS SITE link.

2) Join the Let's Scrap website. It's free, simple and quick! Click HERE to join right now!

3)  Leave me a comment on this post! In your comment, please share your favorite tip for organizing crafting supplies! This will enable us all to gather some great ideas throughout the month of February!

If you would like a second chance in my random drawing, here's what you need to do:

1) Make a card from the sketch I have posted and upload it to the gallery at Let's Scrap. Please tag it like this: 

5-5-11, LEAP44   Note that there is a space after the comma and LEAP is all capitals. There is no space after LEAP.

2) Leave a comment on my blog with a link to your card on Let's Scrap.

Remember: The hop ends at 11:59pm Central Standard time on February 29th, which you will be able to track using the clock on the main page of Let's Scrap, so be sure to do all of the above by the deadline! Prize winners will be posted and notified on March 3.

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you'll come back regularly! Can't wait to read your comments and see your beautiful cards!  

Your next stop will be Carla's blog at Sweet Scrappins. 
Have fun!

Janet