Have you ever participated in a blog hop before?
It is basically a chance to hop from blog to blog, discovering more about the Dotty Divas designers. You should have been sent her from Emma's blog. If you stumbled upon my post today, head over to Dotty Divas blog so that you can start from the beginning.
Let's start with this month's advert challenge!
Here is this month's advertisment:
And here is the layout that I created using the advertisement as inspiration:
This layout was made using Basic Grey's "Nook & Pantry" line.
Are those pears perfect or what?!
To enter the new challenge: create a layout/card/altered item using the advertisement as inspiration. That could mean using the colors, the words, the layout, the theme... whatever inspires you!! Get your submissions sent in for your chance to win this month's prize package from Cardinal Colours and Tando Creative!
Do you like this layout? Would you like to lift it for a layout of your own?
I made it easier for you by creating a sketch! Here you go;
To thank you for visiting my blog and participating in the Dotty Divas Blog Dive I would like to offer up this RAK to one of you:
The RAK includes:
8x8 "Vintage Moon" paper pack by Pink Paislee (12 sheets)
Glitter Alphabet Rub-Ons in Green - 100+letters
Amy Butler Adhesive Flowers by K & Co - 16 pieces
3 large tags from Creative Cafe
36 assorted buttons
How to enter:
1. Become a follower of my blog
2. Leave a comment linking me to your blog (if you have one)
3. Winner will be announced on Nov 24th.
Winner will have one week to claim prize. Open to all!
Next stop: Kristen's Blog!
The Brass Hussy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!
GORGEOUS giveaway... check it out!!
boring, huh? Even with Martha on... yuck. So I've been brainstorming for a while now and have tons of great ideas but hardly any money. Then one day "ta da!" the idea hit me! I took these:
Which are u-g-l-y. The two bottom ones are from the goodwill for a total of $5. The top one was in our guest room. I also took 3 other frames that I had in storage and did this: 
Combined with a $2 can of high gloss black spray paint, a shelf that I had on hand and got this:
Then DH helped me fiddle with them for a while until we had this:
Sorry about that last pic being dark, my camera battery died and this is the best I could get first. I like how it turned out but I have a few more plans to add color. After I get it finished, I'll take better pics. I also have another project including 20 recycled objects, some liquid nails and a cardboard display board. Interested? Check back soon!!
I have to say that I am currently loving Bo Bunny (and tend to stock their blog a little more often than I should!). They have a card sketch challenge going on NOW! And you know how I feel: cards+sketches+challenges=scrappy heaven. Click HERE to see the current sketch. I found this sketch super easy to use and it would be so versatile for any theme. Here is my card, using the "tis the season" line from Bo Bunny:
I used two seperate sheets of pp. The green with blue polka dots went through my new handy-dandy paper crimper (thank you sister!) and was embelished with some red stickle dots. The red polka dot paper (I like polka dots, not that you could tell by this card, LOL) was distressed with sand paper. The "Bah Humbug" is from a sheet of cut-outs (also the "tis the season" line). I used an edge distresser, added stickles to the holly berries and (I know it's hard to tell in the photos) added dimensional glaze on the letters and around the holly leaves so that they look embossed. Here's some detail:
Here's the sneak peak of the RAK that I am going to be offering up on November 20th for the first ever Dotty Divas Blog Dive:
The back of the red paper (doesn't it look like the side of a barn? I love it!) is polka dots. If you were to turn my LO over you would see where I cut a chunk of the paper out so that I could cut the circles out to use on the front. Because my two photo matts are bigger than the hole, you'd never know from looking at the front! I also used lots of buttons from those that I brought home from my mom's this summer.
The largest photo matt and journaling strips are cardboard (the stuff that they stick in the bag when you buy sheets of patterned paper) and the alphas are Basic Grey ("cold") and Making Memories (the small glittery ones). TFL!! Head over to JuJu Bees and make a LO to enter!
It's almost time for the first ever...
Dotty Divas...
...AD challenge # 4 is up! Please go here for the details. This month's prizes are sponsored by Label Tulip and Cardinal Colours.So what are you waiting for? Come and join us in this month's challenge. Can't wait to see your entries.
They are butterfly fairies. The best part of these costumes: BOTH cost us less than $15 to make! Thankfully, we had a bunch of the pieces in the girls' toy boxes (including the two leotards, pink tights, Kayla's pink tutu and Emily's antenna). I bought the wings and shoes (which are worn over their tennis shoes) at the dollar store and I made Emily's tutu out of about $3 of tulle and a bunch of free ribbon left over from my SIL's wedding. The last touch: makeup and glitter hairspray!
For lunch I wanted to do something fun. And I also wanted to use my kitty halloween plates. Here's what I made: 
SPIDER BITES and MONSTER BOOGERS!!!
Gross! But so fun! Everything actually tasted fine because the boogers is just mac & cheese with green food coloring. The spiders are pretty cool. I found the idea online somewhere (sorry I didn't bookmark the link) and I have been waiting to do this for today. Here's how you make them:
Easy! Before you cook anything: cut the hot dogs into small pieces (wouldn't cheesy dogs be super cool?) and take uncooked spagetti noodles, break them in half lengthwise and poke four through each piece of hot dog. Then boil them! See? easy! If you like this idea but don't want to make "spiders" then put a whole bunch of noodles through and toss them in an alfredo sauce that has been colored green (or blue, or whatever). Wouldn't that make a fun dinner at a Birthday party??
So... time to bake a pumpkin crunch cake (pics will be up in the next few days as well as a link to the recipe bc it is crazy delicious) for with dinner tonight. Have a safe and FUN Halloween!
Today is my daughters' class parties. I am excited to be able to go into Emily's 2nd grade class and help "run" the party (I am her classroom parent). We can't use anything that's related to Halloween so we chose a monster theme; goofy, cute monsters. Last night I stuffed treat bags for both Emily and Kayla's classes (44! ugh!) and decorated the cupcakes that I baked up the night before. I made monsters for Emily's class and Cookie Monsters for Kayla's class. I am very happy with the way they turned out. What do you think?
Check this out!
She has the most gorgeous stuff on her blog. Take a minute to dig through... You will definately be bookmarking this site! (Click on the pic to go to Blue Cricket Design)A new challenge is up at Dotty Divas! Let's start with the advert that prompted this challenge:
The challenge is to make something (anything really) that was inspired by the advertisement. I chose a few elements; the word "love" obviously, the two people, the concept of home and a few of the colors. To start, I took an cheap-o wall hanging that I bought at the Dollar Store:
And covered it with all sorts of nummy papers and embelishments!! This will be a wedding gift for my friend Beth (her new last name will be Smith). So, here it is.... The house that love built:
Here's a few close-up pics: 
Get your entries in (details on the blog) by Nov 20th for your chance to win a Lilly Bees kit (photo on the Dotty Divas blog) and Cardinal Colours Cardstock!
I have finished my card for the banner challenge on the Card Trends Blog. I went with another Halloween card (because I'm a sucker for Halloween papers and embellies!) and spiced up my banner with little individually wrapped button candies. I seriously wrapped each button in tulle (that matches the tulle at the bottom of the card) and tied the ends with a bit of embroidery floss. I'm not sure if you can tell by the photo but the green circle is actually a cut-out window. The green paper is on the inside of the card. Does that show?
I love how the little guy looks like he's watching the banner, hoping some of the goodies will fall into his waiting treat bag! Without further ado, here it is:
My candy banner up close:
Wish me luck! I completely adore Card Trends and was so honored to have them spotlight one of my cards last week. Let's hope for two in a row!! :o)
I am just overflowing with pride! I love the Card Trends magazine and blog and check in on them often. This past week they posted a challenge to use flowers on your cards. I thought.. what the heck...let's send one in and see what happens. Well... Lo and Behold... I check the blog today and this is what I see:
"It’s All About the Candy by Erin Manning – Flowers on a Halloween card? Undeniably cute." 
How exciting is THAT? I am so honored. Want to see the post for yourself? Click HERE.
