GROWING IN UNITY - GIVEAWAY WINNER

I still don't know how to put the random.org pick on my blog ... sorry about that.  


The winner happens to live not far from me...it's Donna!!!  


Here's what she said:


Ellen, I am so sorry to hear about your uncle. I know you have been dealing with so much recently. I wish you and your family a Blessed Christmas. Your card is Lovely. Donna

By Donna on GROWING IN UNITY - DAY 5 on 12/23/11

Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment.  It's been a rough couple of months for me and crafting is a little escape (as I'm sure it is with others).  

Thank you also to UNITY STAMPS - you guys are GREAT!!

Wishing you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY, HEALTHY and CRAFTY 2012!!

EllenM

GROWING IN UNITY - DAY 5

Today is my final entry for the UNITY STAMP COMPANY.  It has been my pleasure to show you some of my creations and I thank them for allowing me to do so.

However,

It is with sadness in my heart as my wonderful uncle passed away on Wednesday night and he will be buried tomorrow - Christmas Eve day.

I can't imagine what my cousins are going through right now or my dad who lost his youngest brother two years ago at Thanksgiving. 

My dad is the oldest of three boys.  They all served our country during WWII.  My dad - MARINES; uncle Richard - NAVY and Uncle Rodger - ARMY.  It still amazes me that they all served overseas in three different branches of the military and they all made it back alive.

Well...here's my card for today.  I knew I had to use this wonderful stamp (Almighty God) for one of my projects this week....a reminder of what CHRISTMAS is really all about.

BLESSINGS to you and your family.

EllenM

Please leave a comment here on my blog and PLEASE include your e-mail address for a chance to win one of the following sets:

Sending My Love

Bitty Backgrounds

Little Me

Bella Fiori

Homegrown

Hugs & Kittens

Handmade Holiday

Bella Trees

Imagine It

Winner will be randomly picked on Saturday, December 24th

GROWING IN UNITY - DAY 4

My card for today includes the following UNITY stamps.  

Stars of Worn - on the scalloped edge which was created with a 1" circle punch

Better Not Pout {Nikki Sivils Itty Bitty} - ginger people

Nicest Place To Be - sentiment in detail white embossing powder

Short and sweet post today.  Things are a bit crazy around here to say the least and I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.  HOLIDAY CRUNCH TIME!

Please leave a comment here on my blog and PLEASE include your e-mail address for a chance to win one of the following sets:

Sending My Love

Bitty Backgrounds

Little Me

Bella Fiori

Homegrown

Hugs & Kittens

Handmade Holiday

Bella Trees

Imagine It

Winner will be randomly picked on Saturday, December 24th.

EllenM

GROWING IN UNITY - DAY 3

taken from

http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

It's Wednesday and welcome to another week of Growing in Unity! This week Ellen Mandris is up sharing all her fabulous Unity creations with us!

Here is a little something about Ellen:

"I bought my first stamp 28 years ago ~ I still have it and I still use it!!
Three years ago I got back into scrap booking and it was then that I got hooked on the WONDERFUL hobby of card making.

I love everything about paper crafting. New toys, new techniques, new papers and embellishments…it’s all so addicting.

I’m a mom of three great children and I’ve been married to my best friend for 27 years. We live on a little plot of land with chickens and goats."

Now check out this adorable card Ellen made:

Please leave a comment here on my blog and PLEASE include your e-mail address for a chance to win one of the following sets:

Sending My Love

Bitty Backgrounds

Little Me

Bella Fiori

Homegrown

Hugs & Kittens

Handmade Holiday

Bella Trees

Imagine It

Winner will be randomly picked on Saturday, December 24th.

Thanks for visiting!!

GROWING IN UNITY - DAY 2

Today I paper pieced the stockings using the MATCHING SOCKS set to make a cute little Christmas card.

Sentiment is from the CHRISTMAS EVE CHOWDER - jullibean soup set. 

Paper is from DCWV - Homemade Christmas stack.

Please leave a comment here on my blog and PLEASE include your e-mail address for a chance to win one of the following sets:

Sending My Love

Bitty Backgrounds

Little Me

Bella Fiori

Homegrown

Hugs & Kittens

Handmade Holiday

Bella Trees

Imagine It

Winner will be randomly picked on Saturday, December 24th.

PEACE, 

EllenM

GROWING IN UNITY

I am so thrilled to be a part of the GROWING IN UNITY guest designer series. 

Love that red rubber UNITY goodness.  

For today's card, I used the Homespun Christmas {Nikki Sivils Itty Bitty} 

http://www.unitystampco.com/product/1067-homespun-christmas-nikki-sivils-itty-bitty.aspx

Paper is from the Recollections ~ Warm Wishes stack and I topped off the roof and chimney with some liquid applique and threw in some snow piles for good measure. 

Please leave a comment here on my blog and PLEASE include your e-mail address for a chance to win one of the following sets:

Sending My Love

Bitty Backgrounds

Little Me

Bella Fiori

Homegrown

Hugs & Kittens

Handmade Holiday

Bella Trees

Imagine It

Winner will be randomly picked on Saturday, December 24th.

See you tomorrow!!

EllenM

MORE of me MIA

Just a little update....

My mom and dad are now living with us (something Harry and I have been trying to get them to do for 8 years). We've turned our living room into their room and we're trying to make them as comfortable as possible.

Next week I'm GD for UNITY STAMPS so make sure you check them out!!  LOVE their red rubber!!

PEACE,

Ellen

ME = MIA

Life has been just a bit crazy around here lately.  Taking my dad to the VA hospital filled my days until my mom fell on the basement stairs and broke her pelvic bone.  One week in the hospital then she was transfered to a rehab facility.  I've been spending most of my time with my dad - staying overnight and days are spent visiting my mom.

Not much crafting going on here at WALNUT HILL FARM but that's ok. 

FAMILY is the most important thing.

Blessings to you and your family and I wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Ellen

CREATIVE TIME FOR ME - THROWBACK THURSDAY CHALLENGE

Emma's challenge this week was to use a retired cartridge.

This was a really quick card to make.  It's for my brother and sister-in-laws anniversary.

I used the PAPER PUPS cartridge and my GYPSY and "flipped" one of the dogs. 

The "cloud" stamp is really the top of the cupcake from the Stampin' Up set CREATE A CUPCAKE and the sentiment stamp is from UNITY.

Glossy Accents added to their noses and eyes.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK EVERYONE.

PEACE

CHRISTMAS IN JULY BLOG HOP WINNER

Hi Everyone,

Picked a winner and it's #17

 

scraphappybette who said...

OK!! Now I want to make a shaker card!!  TFS

I'll be e-mailing you soon BETTE.

Thanks to all who left comments!!

 

CHRISTMAS IN JULY BLOG HOP

If you hopping along with us you arrived here from Jaimie's blog at http://glitterstampsandpaperohmy.com/

Hope you're staying cool!! 

I don't know what the weather is like in you neck of the woods, but in Western New York the heat and humidity has been horrible.  92 in the shade on Thursday ~ I'll take a snow storm over this kind of  heat anyday.  Maybe it's time to move further NORTH!!

BUT...as I'm typing this, I'm in Pensacola, FL visiting my in-laws  We got in very late Thursday night and with the time change, I'm out of wack......more coffee please.

For my project, I made a snow-filled shaker card.  These are really easy to make (just google shaker card videos - there's lots of tuts on how they're done) and I love the way the large Martha Stewart glitter looks inside.  Speaking of MS, I use her snowflake punches all the time for Christmas/Winter projects as I did on this card.

So if you've never made a shaker card go ahead and give it a try.  I try to learn/make something new every single day.

Leave a comment (become a follow if you'd like but it's not required) and make sure you leave your e-mail addess for a chance to win a small token of my appreciation for taking the time to let me know what you think of my card.  This will close at 12:00 midnight EST on Saturday, July 30, 2011 and random.org will pick a winner on Sunday, July 31st.

Thanks for stopping by and hopping along with us ~ and a big THANK YOU to Nicolette Simpson at http://www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com/ for coordinating this hop.

 

Now head on over to the last stop ~ Bette's blog www.believedreamcreate.blogspot.com and I'm getting ready to hit the beach!!

PKS GUEST DESIGNER GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

It was a great week with all the PEACHY-NESS going on in my craft area. 

Again I'd like to send a BIG THANK YOU to PEACHY KEEN STAMPS for allowing me to be a guest designer.

As a giveaway (compliments of PKS) I picked the BOY MATES FACE ASSORTMENT (PK-642) a $25.00 value - HOW AWESOME IS THAT??!!

Here were the rules (as stated in my day 1 post)

Please leave a comment here on my blog (you don't have to be a follower but I always like making new friends) AND on the PEACHY KEEN blog http://www.peachykeenstamps.blogspot.com each day this week.  I will have random.org pick a day (Monday being #1, Tuesday #2, etc...etc with Friday being #5) then random.org with pick the blog (PKS being #1 and lifeatwalnuthill being #2) then finally the post. SO ~ You never know what day or blog random.org will pick - increase your chances and leave a comment each and every day.

Winner will be picked on Saturday, June 25, 2011 - 6:00 AM (Eastern Time)

I have no idea how to post the actual picture of the actual picked number from random.org so you'll have to trust me on this.

Day of the week number picked was #5 so that makes it FRIDAY

Blog picked was #1 so that makes it the PEACHY KEEN STAMPS BLOG

There were 18 comments and random.org picked #13 so the winner is

~Saundra from Luv Scrapping Together who said...

Awesome week, Ellen! Love the project today. I do remember some of those facts.

CONGRATS Saundra!!

I'll be contacting you soon.



PEACHY KEEN STAMPS ~ GUEST DESIGNER DAY 5

Welcome to my last day as guest designer for PEACHY KEEN STAMPS.  It's been my pleasure and honor to be a part of this!!

Today is the LET'S FACE IT FRIDAY challenge at PKS.  Here's the info.

The Challenge:

Create a project showcasing the year you graduated from high school! Make sure you "peachify" your project with our fun faces!


-Design must be new
-Project must include Peachy Keen Faces
-Link up by 11:59 pm 7/7


One random winner will receive a $20 Gift Certificate to Peachy Keen Stamps!


REMEMBER ~ you'll be posting your project over at the PEACHY KEEN blog.


So.....I graduated in 1979.  How couldn't you love the year they came out with the DUSTBUSTER!

Ever since I got the info about this challenge, the song 19 SOMETHING by Mark Wills has been running through my head.

It was 1970- something
In the world that I grew up in
Farrah Faucett hair-do days
Bell bottoms and 8-track tapes
Lookin' back now I can see me
And oh, man did I look cheesy
But I wouldn't trade those days for nothin'
It was 1970-something

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here are some facts about that year.


Cost of Living 1979


Yearly Inflation Rate USA 11.2%
Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 838
Interest Rates Year End Federal Reserve 15.25%
Average Cost of new house $58,100.00
Average Income per year $17,500.00
Average Monthly Rent $280.00 
Sony Walkman $200.00
Cost of a gallon of Gas .86 cents

The #1 song on the day I graduated was HOT STUFF by Donna Summer.

News from that year included


Ford's Pinto automobile design allowed its fuel tank to be easily damaged in the event of a rear-end collision which sometimes resulted in deadly fires and explosions. It was first noticed by Ford in 1971 tests.

On March 28, Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear power plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, had a near melt-down. No one was reported killed or injured, but the accident changed many regulations for American nuclear reactors. (I was not a member of our high school band but they were on a trip to Harrisburg, PA when this happened)

52 Americans are taken hostage in Tehran, Iran for 444 days. Four days later, ABC's Nighline premiered, centering on the crisis.

NASA's Skylab fell to Earth, landing mostly in the Indian Ocean.

11 people were crushed to death outside of Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum prior to a concert by The Who.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Since that was the year I started driving, this is what the theme of my project is for today.


Here in New York state, people could only buy gas on alternate days, depending upon whether their license plate ended with an odd or even number and the lines were so long!  Gosh...I haven't thought about that in ages.


So....here I am getting some gas in my Plymouth Horizon.  My dad bought this car then decided he didn't like driving a "tin can" ~ HA...so my mom and dad let me drive it.



I love the little guy in the van (not mini-van) ~ (behind the pump) with the frowny face.  Guess he was not happy about waiting in a long line.

Here's a trick I use to determine what size/character face to use ~ not sure if everyone does this but....I take a piece of scrap paper and use the leftover piece from the doll cut as a stencil.  Sometimes the size and face that I think will look great doesn't so it's easily changed without cutting out another paperdoll.

Please see my DAY 1 post for info/rules on the giveaway compliments of PEACHY KEEN STAMPS!

http://lifeatwalnuthill.blogspot.com/2011/06/peachy-keen-stamps-guest-designer-day-1.html

Thanks for visiting me this week and come back soon for more F~U~N!

Ellen M.



PEACHY KEEN STAMPS ~ GUEST DESIGNER DAY 4

Welcome to day 4 and WOW...this week is going fast!

Today my project is a wall hanging and I hope you like it because I had such fun making it.

But first....

...a little bit about me ~ my family lives in a circa 1855 house on 5 1/2 acres.  I have 3 children ~ oldest daughter just graduated from SUNY - Oneonta (education major), my son is a computer engineering major at the University at Buffalo and the youngest will be a junior in high school in the fall and then there's my husband who is THE BEST!  We celebrated our 27th anniversary on June 1st.

We have a dog, 3 cats, a turtle, a bunny, 2 goats and about 20 chickens. 

When the COUNTRY LIFE cartridge came out, I just had to get it and I'm so glad I did because I just love this hen.

The eggs are cut from DOODLECHARMS and the numbers are from BIRTHDAY BASH. 

First I took a piece of very heavy chipboard then glued a piece of burlap to it.  I printed out the title, inked the edges then crumpled it up a bit.  I attached it to the base paper with foam tape and made it a bit wavy.

She needed something at her neck (the cut from the cartridge just has it plain) so I cut another one of the tail feathers, cuddlebugged it with the swiss dots folder, inked the edges and turned it upside down so now she has some neck feathers.



For her wing, again I used the swiss dots embossing folder and I layered the two cuts with pop dots so you'd be able to hang the eggs....like this  (I hot glued an opened paperclip to the back of the eggs for the "hanger")



But the best part about my girl is her super cute eye.  I used the CRITTER FACES - EXTRA LARGE (PK-756) but masked it so I had only one eyeball.  Then I stamped it again on the beige paper and cut out the eyeball.  I think this is my favorite PK "eye"!! 

Hope you like it as much as I do.

Come on back tomorrow for the FACE IT FRIDAY challenge and don't forget about the giveaway (thanks to PEACHY KEEN STAMPS) ~ info and rules can be found on my DAY 1 post here

~~~~>   http://lifeatwalnuthill.blogspot.com/2011/06/peachy-keen-stamps-guest-designer-day-1.html

PEACE,

EllenM

PEACHY KEEN STAMPS GUEST DESIGNER - DAY 3

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!  I've been having a BLAST playing with my PEACHY KEEN STAMPS.

I had so much fun making my card for today. 

My youngest daughter Abby was invited to a Mardi Gras themed birthday party last Saturday (that girl had 5 things going on that day) ~ her dear friend Katy turned 16!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATY!

I found this adorable cutting file from Treasure Box Designs and cut it with the SURE CUTS A LOT program.  You don't have to use SCAL to get these cute files.  You can purchase them and hand cut them.

Isn't she CUTE?? 

I had the tiny chain layin' around for a very long time.  I knew that one day it would be perfect on a card or layout and I was right.  I colored it with teal and purple COPICS.  The larger chain with the GOT BEADS? sentiment is the kind of chain from a pull ceiling fixture (it's actaully from my oldest daughters closet - sorry Meta)  I colored that too.

I used one of my favorite PEACHY KEEN STAMPS sets (oh....who am I kidding....I LOVE THEM ALL) ..anyways it's the HAPPY LASHES ASSORTMENT (PK-460) and even though the "lashes" part of the stamp is covered up by the mask, you can see that HUGE smile and nose on this party girl. 

Did you know that PEACHY KEEN STAMPS sells all kinds of tools too?  I love their cheek chalk brushes  They are listed in the SUPPLIES category under PAINTBRUSHES and they come in two sizes.  My PEACHY cheeks come out perfect using these tools.

Please see my DAY 1 post for information/rules on the giveaway

http://lifeatwalnuthill.blogspot.com/2011/06/peachy-keen-stamps-guest-designer-day-1.html

Remember...think outside the box ~ that's where the fun is and I hope you have a PEACHY KEEN day!!

See you tomorrow.

PEACHY KEEN STAMPS GUEST DESIGNER - DAY 2

Welcome back......AND today is my mom and dad's 64th ANNIVERSARY....they are such an inspiration to my me and my husband!!

Today I have a GIRL SCOUT inspired creation.

This past Saturday, my youngest daughter and I attended a Girl Scout tea where her troop received their Silver Award.  For their project, they made teddy bears for our local fire department to give out when they had an emergency call involving children.

This card was made for her leader (and my dear friend Amy) and Abby picked out the sentiment (My Pink Stamper - Everyday Occasions).  Thank you Amy for being their leader all these years!!!

I used the B IS FOR BOY cartridge for the base (welded together on my Gypsy) then I cut two more for the top layers (a bit smaller).  One in green and one in white.  The white piece I cut  down and stamped little butterflies (from Stampin' Up - itty bitty bits). 

On the green piece, I started with the Vintage Notebook stamp from MARKET STREET STAMPS done in VersaMark but I turned the stamp so the lines were vertical, then (in orange again) I used the PEACHY KEEN Extra Small Polka Dot Print (PK-103) and stamped right over the Vintage Notebook.

The “Scout” is from PAPER DOLL DRESS UP and PAPER DOLLS FOR EVERYDAY. For the sash, I used the CAMPIN’ CRITTERS cartridge. It’s the sash from the Eagle cut.

Her sweet little face is from the Everyday Character Face Assortment set (PK-490). 

Please see my DAY 1 post for giveaway information/rules.

http://lifeatwalnuthill.blogspot.com/2011/06/peachy-keen-stamps-guest-designer-day-1.html

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back tomorrow with a project that (if I do say so myself) came out SUPER CUTE.

PEACHY KEEN STAMPS GUEST DESIGNER ~ DAY 1

Welcome to my first day as a PKSGD.

What an HONOR for me!!

First, I have to tell ya’ll how much I LOVE PEACHY KEEN STAMPS. My projects wouldn’t be nearly as cute without their wonderful products…and the quality is out of this world!!

Time being what it is (or I should say lack of time) I tend to keep my posts short and sweet. Just like Joe Friday (from Dragnet) said “Just the facts, Ma'am.”

For my first project, I made this card for my dear daddy who will be turning 87 soon. He served in the Marine Corps during WWII and is still involved in the Marine Corps League. Most of the things I make for him have a patriotic theme.

Using my Gypsy, I cut the dress shirt from SIMPLY CHARMED and on the knot of the tie, a cute little PK face from BOY MATES FACE ASSORTMENT (PK-642).

To give the effect of a tie clip, I cut off a paper clip and put a chipboard star on the top.

Baking twine is wrapped around the mat several times and when I don’t have to mail something, I go all out with foam tape.

Now ~ giveaway information. 

You could be the winner of this adorable set of faces.  It's the BOY MATES FACE ASSORTMENT (PK-642)

The rules:

Please leave a comment here on my blog (you don't have to be a follower but I always like making new friends) AND on the PEACHY KEEN blog http://www.peachykeenstamps.blogspot.com each day this week.  I will have random.org pick a day (Monday being #1, Tuesday #2, etc...etc with Friday being #5) then random.org with pick the blog (PKS being #1 and lifeatwalnuthill being #2) then finally the post. SO ~ You never know what day or blog random.org will pick - increase your chances and leave a comment each and every day.

Winner will be picked on Saturday, June 25, 2011 - 6:00 AM (Eastern Time)

Thanks for visiting and check back tomorrow for a GIRL SCOUT themed card.

NICOLETTE'S BIRTHDAY BASH BLOG HOP

UPDATE
**winner ~ winner**

The winner of my little giveaway is

Cathy said...

Really really love this card. Love what you did with the balloons.

Thanks for your comment Cathy - it's in the mail!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLETTE!!

WELCOME to Nicolette's Brithday Bash Blog Hop ~ June 1st & 2nd.  I'm so happy to be participating and celebrating with her and all the other wonderful, creative artists!

Please visit everyone ~ the links are at the bottom of this post.

The mission ~ create something DISNEY. 

When I thought of using the POOH AND FRIENDS cartridge, I sort of cringed.  This cartridge is really cute but the way the layers go together always intimidated me (it was one of the first cartridges I purchased too).  It's my own fault because I have never taken the time to really study the handbook so this was the perfect opportunity to work with it.

Here's my Heffalump!!  I also used a balloon from CELEBRATIONS.

The number paper and banner are from the DCWV Celebration Stack and the blue is from the Glitter Cardstock Mat Stack.

Heavy wire wrapped around a paint brush handle then stretched out a bit were used to make the strings.  I poked a hole near his hands and threaded the wire through and taped it on the back.

So glad you stopped by.

Please leave a comment (and I'd love for you to become a follower but it's not "required" but leaving a way for me to contact you is) for the chance to win a little something :)

Happy hopping!!

1. Nicolette www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

2. Cheryl http://CardsbyCG.blogspot.com/

3. Tammy http://tammyjennings.blogspot.com/

5. Krista http://www.KristasPaperCafe.com/

6. Karelj www.kareljcreations.com



7. Denise http://deesdesignsfrommyheart.blogspot.com/

8. Paula D www.scrapyourworld1.blogspot.com

9. Jenny http://jennyplace26.blogspot.com/

10. Kimmarie http://kimmarieskorner.blogspot.com/

11. Carol C. http://cardstockscrissorsandglue.blogspot.com/

12. Corrine P http://celebratingordinarymoments.blogspot.com/

13. Anita http://anitaandbugs.blogspot.com/

you're here

14. Ellen http://lifeatwalnuthill.blogspot.com/

15. Michelle P http://queenofmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

16. Deborah http://www.scrappingmamma.net/

17. Stacy http://CreatingACraftyLife.blogspot.com/

18. Pam http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

19. Jenn N. http://craftyfulgardens.blogspot.com/

20. Kristal http://gettingcricky.com/

21. Alina http://www.neverstoppscrapping.blogspot.com/

22. Stacey http://www.pinksugarcre8s.blogspot.com/

23. Brynn http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com/

24. Dawnica O http://www.dawnicakorner.blogspot.com/

25. Ellen http://www.cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/