29 February 2012

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

75 comments:

Connie said...

Yipee, I get to leave the first comment! You know how I feel about owls (or any bird, for that matter!), but I must admit, your card is quite adorable!

Janet said...

Aww, thanks, Connie! That's one reason I made two cards, so you can look at the other one! ;)

Sharon W. said...

Hi Janet, I am hopping. I've been to IA, Montana, Austalia and a few sites that I don't know where I am. Trying to print sketches.

Elizna said...

Love your cards! Visiting your blog all the way from South Africa....yay! Storage: I LOVE plastic containers - big and small... even if you have a flood your stash will be safe...LOL! Happy Hopping!

Chriss America Real said...

Oh Janet! These cards are just gorgeous! I am a huge owl fan so I really love the owl one too! Great take on the sketch!

Hugs,

Chriss

www.chrissandlou.blogspot.com
america57@comcast.net

Kay Wallace said...

Hi, Janet, great takes on the cards! Love them both! I am with Elizna on this one...plastic and preferably with an attached lid! I lose things too easily! Am a member of Let's Scrap, and am new to your blog! Thanks for the opportunity to win that great RAK!

Eniko said...

From one feline lover to another... You are crazy talented! Your first card, especially, took my breath away! Beautiful dimensional work! Just beautiful! Oh yeh...re: organization -Well, I use plastic drawers that I label clearly & I organize like items together. I posted my scrap-room on Let's Scrap. Labels include: Buttons,Acrylic Stamps, Ink, Metal, etc. My favorite organizational "tool" is actually a flat tool box with a zillion compartments (I will blog about this at some point) -I have several of them & they are perfect for organizing brads, paper flowers & other small embellishments.

Rachelle said...

I love your cards, they are so beautiful. I have plastic drawers and containers with names on where what is!!!

I am a follower and a member on Let's Scrap
Have fun!
Rachelle

Janet said...

Thank you all so much for your kind words! It's a great sketch, very practical -- just what I like! Thanks for stopping by -- happy hopping! Janet

sa_homespun / Michelle van Wyk said...

So excited that the blog has finally started, being in Australia, I am like 15 hours ahead of you girls and have been waiting an extra day.. now I wake up this morning bright and early and can FINALLY start playing with.. yipeee... thank you for all the hard work.. you girls are doing a great job !

I just love your example cards (that first card rocks.. all that dimension and layering.. amazing work.. )

Debby has been doing a great job on the card sketches.. wow, how busy is she !!!

Have been a member of Let's Scrap forever and am a new member of your blog (which is awesome) ! (lol) AND will be making a card soon and will post link here.

I moved from South Africa to Australia very recently and bought a new range of IKEA furniture.. so I cheat and everything is neat in boxes with lids and labels.. LOL.. Still love old bottles for buttons, flowers, etc though.. they add a touch of class to your room as well..

Hugs, Michelle van Wyk

Betty Anne said...

Thank you so much for hosting the Let's Scrap blog hop. Your cards are so totally different but equally cute. Great take on the sketch.
A Let's Scrap member recently shared how she stored her ribbon on little 2 x 21/2 cardboard pieces. So i switched over all my ribbon and couldn't believe how much less room it takes. Now I have extra drawers for some more stash LOL I am a follower of your blog and of Let's Scrap.

Mindi Brown ~}:{~ said...

I love your owl card, totally the cutest!! My favorite storage is my stamps that i put into my numbered CD cases. Takes up sooo much less space! I stamp the images onto cardstock in a binder. I have dividers by occasion and theme. find the image I want, go to that CD case, and disco!
Thanks for hosting!
Mindi

Michelle Looi said...

Am a follower and member of Let's scrap!

Hop on to mine at http://scraposition.blogspot.com/

Get toolbox with small dividers to organize buttons/eyelets

Kathy said...

Hi, Janet....so glad you are hosting a stop on the hop...your cards are AWESOME! I love color and OA is one of my fave manufacturers! Iowa is still one of my 50 State visit bucket list's 'need-to-visit' places!
There is a forum thread on storage on the site.....we all have yet to find the perfect solution (mainly because we have too much stuff---LOL!), but I agree, it is great to share ideas! I love drawers that aren' too high....So I can store stuff and not have to root too much to find what's in it. And I label the outsides to help in the search. In my perfect scraproom (coming in my next house) I will have walls of drawer systems and shelving!
I am a long-time LS member, and I have joined your blog! That is an awesome RAK you are offering!

Margaret said...

Oh really SUPER cards!!! I'm also from South africa, so, nice to meet you in blog land! Storage - urgh everyone's problem. I am now storing all my punches in 2 large, see-through, shoe bags, that are hanging from my doors. I filled the first one up last month so had to buy another one! They were all initially in large plastic drawer containers, but I just got so tired of scrathing through to find the one I want. NOW I know where each one is in the holder, and I can actually see when one is missing!

JaniceA said...

I am lucky to have several drawers in my room that I use for things like inks, punches, ect. but my favorite is my peg boards because I can see the stuff and use it.
Love your card! janiceaeschliman.blogspot.com

Julie H said...

Such lovely cards, great layering! I love that your second card was all from scraps - that is my challenge for all the cards I make in this blog hop too!
I love tackle boxes for things like ribbons, brads etc - grouped together by colour. Also every box has a label so I know what's in it! (you can see one of my ribbon boxes and buttons on my blog: http://spendlesscraftmore.blogspot.com.au/

Kathy said...

Here's the link to the LS gallery for my card entry for your blog hop, Janet! Thanks for the challenge!
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/leap44-happy-birthday?context=user

Janet said...

You all are so sweet! Thank you for stopping by. I'm enjoying all the organizational tips -- hope you are, too! :)

Benita said...

Lovin' the cards & just joined the site. That house book is so cute & it would be perfect for pictures of our new home :) My best organizational tip is to buy an Ikea Expedit....they are PERFECT for organizing a scrap/craft room! I don't know what I would do without mine!

jenessa said...

Love both of your cards...so so cute! I've been a member of LS, and I've joined your blog =) Thanks for being a fellow host...this will be such a fun hop! I organize all my supplies by color...I know exactly where to look when I'm putting together my projects =)

Sherri said...

I like both your cards. the owl one is super cute.
I like to organize by theme in files in a filing cabinet.

Sharon Fritchman said...

Hi Janet! I LOVE your blog!!! And the photo of you "just the other day!" And of course, your adorable owl card! So I am a follower now - I am also a fellow blog hop host! so nice to meet you here, my new friend!

poohbear said...

Hello, I am a member of LS and I am now a follower of your great blog. I look forward to visiting again. I love my wooden spice rack that I use for buttons.

Unknown said...

Your card is stunning, the storage on my desk diferent glass vases for flowers, ribbon scraps, chippies, I need to see my stuff. Have baskets on the sides for punches etc. At work I have a large peg board where everything is hung and visible. And of course you can never have enough clear boxes. hope you are enjoying the hop, I am going backwards. am a follower and Let's Scrap DT

katie b. said...

LOVE your cards, my friend!!

Scrappin' Annie said...

Just love your wonderful textured cards - gorgeous work. Thank you for the great hop. I organise my scraps in a filing drawer with tags for each colour on top.

Carolina said...

I LOVE your cards, so pretty, both of them!!!! My favourite tip for a very messy scrapper like me is one I found a short time ago. Accept the fact that you'll never have a perfectly neat room, buy some clear containers and put stuff there!!!!

ShazC said...

I am a follower and LS member. I keep everything in plastic containers.

Jen Leeflang said...

LOL about your cats - mine do the same!!! AND my old lady cat shreds any new paper I bring into the house! ... back to the hop - I particularly loved looking at how you have put your card together with those little strips and how they break the card plane - I am now SO inspired!!Thanks for sharing. I am now your newest follower and am stop#19 on the hop.
luv'n huggz
Jen Leeflang
DURBAN
SOUTH AFRICA

Desire Fourie said...

Hi Janet. This is my first time visit here. I have become a Follower and am already a member of Lets Scrap. I love your creations and your takes on the sketch for the blog hop is gorgeous. I have bought myself some tiny drawer units (50 drawers in a unit) from our local hardware shop in which I store my embellishments. Would love to see you as a Follower over at www.desiref.blogspot.com
Hugs
Desire

Sherri said...

I used you bloghop sketch for a layout and posted on let's scrap. check it out!
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/sunset-in-d-c-5-5-11-leap44?context=user

Jen Leeflang said...

Hi Janet, I was so inspired by your sketch and card that I had to make a card using your sketch too. It is here:
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/my-best-friend-1?context=user

anne g-i said...

I am definately going to read thru the comments for organizing tips! I've tried many different things for organizing paper but have settled on just storing it all together. I like going thru a stack of mixed papers - looking for just the right combo. Your cards are terrific! I am a new follower and a LS member.

Betty Flea said...

Good morning from Canada's beautiful east coast. I love the name of your blog. Thanks for taking part in the blog hop and for being a host. I am number 50 in Leap Around the World.
I am already a follower of your blog and a DT member at Let's Scrap. I am hopping over to LS to post my take on your host sketch.

Betty Flea said...

Back already and here is the link to my card on the LS gallery:
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/grandmother-on-halloween?context=user

sa_homespun / Michelle van Wyk said...

This was a great sketch to work with..thanks for doing part of the blog hop.. here is my layout: http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/5-5-11-roses-are-red?context=user

Jessica said...

Loving the name of your blog! I love my two girls, Georgie and Rebel. Can you tell we thought they were boys when we got them! lol Yours have beautiful faces. I also love the cards you've made for the hop. I am a member, and now a follower too. I'll be back! Thanks for sharing.

Andie said...

Wonderful blog, Janet! LOVE your kitty pics, they seem like real characters :-)
Your cards are fabulous and lovin' the RAK!
I'm a LS member and now a follower of your blog. I love the large 13x13 Iris containers from M's (have 20 so far!), and photo boxes - and my labeller!

Andie said...

Me again! Here is the link to my card from this sketch:
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/you-re-the-best?context=user
Thanks! You can find me at http://papercandie.blogspot.com

Evelyn Vertefeuille said...

Hi Janet,
I to love paper crafts and cats. I have only one 13 year old cat named Geneva. Before I met my husband I told my mom that since I couldn't find Mr Right, I was going to be a cat lady. Her reply? Whatever makes you happy honey.

Organization tip- I keep all my small things, buttons, brads, etc in clear plastic boxes with lots of dividers, sorted by color. I have one for buttons, one for brads, one for eyelets. etc.

Your cards are really lovely and interesting. I would love to receive either of them!

Scrappin' Annie said...

Hi Janet. Thank you for the great hop. Here is the link to my card in the LS gallery
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/soul-flowers-leap44?context=user

Rachelle said...

Hi I am back for a second chance to win your lovely giveaway. Here's the link to my card in the gallery.
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/leap44-1?context=user

Have fun
Rachelle
http://crafti.blogspot.com

Vallarie Clegg said...

Hi and thanks for hosting. I am a member of LS and now a following of your blog. I just started my blog and would love for you to join. scrappinvall.blogspot.com. I'm all about shelves and drawers....keep it separated and you will find it.

Asmah Zainal Abidin said...

Hi Janet :)
I love your cards, a WOW from me! I am LS member and just follow you! If I get the chance to win your awesome candy, I'll start working on that mini house album right awsy :) I shall be back. I welcome you to my blog too :) Thank you.
Hugs from Malaysia...
Asmah www.qinaahanaartsandcrafts.blogspot.com

Asmah Zainal Abidin said...

ps: By the way, I love organizing my craft tools and stash accordingly; I prefer crystal clear boxes or files so I can 'scan' faster, lol.

Katy said...

Love your cards!! That first one has some happy fun colors!! On the second I love the owl! I organize my free digital stamps in folders by the manufacturers name so I can always give credit. All of my other stuff...I'm still trying to organize! Thanks for hosting! :)

Laura Alberts said...

My favorite way to organize scrap supplies is with my file drawer. I have a hanging file folder filled with scraps organized by color. My stickers are also in there and organized by theme. I adore the layering on your cards, love the extra dimension it gives.

Laura Alberts
lauraspeaceofmind.blogspot.com

CathQuillScrap said...

I am now a follower.

My organising tip - I sort all my goodies into like stuff... ie ribbon in one box sorted by colour; flowers in another box also sorted by colour. This way if I need pink or blue or whatever I just find the packet containing that colour and away I go.

My card can now be found here - http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/leap44?context=user

Kay Wallace said...

Here I am back a SECOND time, Janet, for a second chance to win your sweet blog candy! Here's the link to my card in the Let's Scrap Gallery:
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/hello-leap5/prev?context=latest

Vallarie Clegg said...

back to leave you the link to my card. I hope you like it. http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/leap44-2?context=user

Evelyn Vertefeuille said...

Hi Janet!
Here is my card
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/leap-44?context=user
Thanks!

Christine said...

Hi Janet...already a member at LS and have just joined your ..WOW!...amazing blog...so much creativity and inspiration.Love your take on the sketch...your cards are stunning.Will certainly visit often..yummy recipes as well. Tips for storage..???...just invested in a paper storage rack, other than that my work area is one big mess...so would welcome some ideas on storage.
Thanks for sharing and hosting.

Christine from Mauritius

Christine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine said...

Hi...back again...sorry had few tech problems earlier.
Here is the link to my hop car at LS..enjoyed this one and thanks again.

http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/5-5-11-leap44?context=latest

krcmasterpiece said...

Hi from Virginia! Cats & Cardstock-can't go wrong there. I have 2 furbabies. I'm a new follower. Been on LS for a little while. Loving the hop. Your owl is cute!

Soonymary said...

I am now a follower of your blog and I am Sue Wheeler on LS. I couldn't manage without my labeller!

Lili Sulastri said...

Beautiful cards. I am now afollower of your blog even though I have been a member of LS for sometime now.

Anonymous said...

http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/5-5-11-leap44-1?context=latest
mHi janet my card for your blog hop

anne g-i said...

Hi! I am back with a link to my card and another chance to win you fab prize!

http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/blessings-5-5-11-leap44?context=user

Antje said...

I found my way bloghopping to you.
Joined as follower no 84 and my favorite tip: I got acrylic boards from a pharmacy (where they have their advertised products in for a period of time and then they don't need it any more) for organizing my stamping supplies.
I will be back in a moment to post my link from letsscrap. thanks for being a host. Love your sketch.
Greetings from Germany Antje

Antje said...

If you follow this link
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/5-5-11-leap44-2?context=user
you will see my card.
Thanks for looking
Antje

Karen said...

Hi Janet. I am now a follower to your blog and love what I see here. I am also a member of Let's Scrap for a year now. My favorite tip for organizing is to scan layouts in magazines and put in folders on my computer. This saves time when I want to make a card or layout from a particular event. It saves me money too as I often borrow other's mags or from the library. Thanks for hosting.

Karen said...

Here is the link to the galley with my card.

http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/5-5-11-leap44-3?context=user

Jodi R. said...

Love these cards Janet! I love organizing ribbon and small embellies by color in clear glass or plastic containers. I like to be able to see what I have. I am a member of LS and a new follower of your blog.

krcmasterpiece said...

Here's my card:
http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/chic-easter?context=user

Chels said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE your cards. I am a follower and member of LS.

ana said...

just beautiful blog great take on the sketch!

Katy said...

Hello! Here's my 2nd chance:

http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/st-pattys-leap-44-copy?context=latest

Julie H said...

I have just uploaded my card to the gallery: http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/live-choose-with-no-regret?context=latest.
pop on over for a visit if you get the chance:
http://spendlesscraftmore.blogspot.com.au/

Jody Spiegelhoff said...

I love your fab OA cards! I'm a follower & LS member.

Alma Carter : Emsige Biene said...

Hi Janet, Yep, time is running out and I will definitely not make it to the end of the Hop! I just adore your cards you made!
I’m a new kid on your blog and I’m a member of Let’s Scrap. Thank you for hosting one of the stop-overs in the Blog Hop and thank you for the chance to win the awesome Leap Candy you are offering!
*sigh!* organising is not one of my strong points, because my stash is so HUGE I can open a shop plus a branch or two LOL. I keep most of my goodies in see-through plastic containers so I do not have to rummage too much ;-)

Hugs all the way from Namibia

www.emsigebiene.blogspot.com

Chels said...

Here is my card. http://letsscrap.ning.com/photo/merci?context=user

Bhawana said...

lovely cards... great that you created such a wonderful card with scraps.... I have to think many times.. :). ur new follower and member in LS.

http://ilovecreativity-bhawana.blogspot.com/