Happy 3rd Birthday TGF! It's a Birthday Bash!

Beware:  THIS IS A REALLY LONG POST, but so worth reading! 

WELCOME to The Greeting Farm's 3 YEAR Birthday Bash!

We are thrilled to be joining the Farmers today in celebration of this very special event . . . to officially celebrate The Greeting Farm's 3-Year-Young Birthday!  To kick off the August release, we are celebrating with a special birthday blog hop. First and foremost, we want to thank EVERYONE for your continued support, encouragement and enthusiasm these past three years. We know it's said all over the cyber-world, but we TRULY appreciate and understand the fact that if it weren't for all of you, TGF would not be anywhere near the community and business it is today and for that we are truly grateful.

On that note, before I show you my project for today, we want to announce that we have an EXCLUSIVE digi stamp as a gift with ANY rubber stamp purchase TODAY through FRIDAY, August 5th at 10pm CST. To claim your exclusive digi, just email Jessica with a copy of your receipt and your FREE GIFT will be sent shortly after! Remember, this is ONLY good through the 5th at 10pm so make sure you get yours before it disappears forever!

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On to the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog's challenge.  Yes, we can't forget about our MM challenge right?  Today the DT is CASE'ing this card made by, Krista aka Craftylittlepigtails.

Here is my project.  I'm using Birthday Anya 2 and Birthday Ian.  What better way to celebrate TGF's birthday!  :)  I masked to 2 images together and created a Cake Card.  

Here's a side view of the card laying down.

Here's what the card looks like when opened up.  Cuteness huh?  :)  I can't remember who's blog it was when I saw this Cake Card, but I managed to get a link to a tutorial. Click {HERE} for the tutorial.

Ok, here's a look at it with all the candles in the cake.  HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY TGF!!!!!! 

The Mystery Monday contest runs until Sunday, entries are due by 12 PM CST. The winner is chosen by random draw and will win a free TGF single stamp of choice, so good luck! Please post your cards in the TGF Galleria - Home > Farm Fresh Challenges 2011 > Mystery Mondays > CraftyLittlePigtails.

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As for today's event, there are THREE NEW RELEASES and since we're feelin' generous on our birthday, we are giving away THREE August Release Prize Packs today (exclusive digi not included :) just for hopping with us and coming BACK to the TGF Blog to wish our little Farm a happy day!

You will have until 11:59pm CST tonight to comment on the DT's blogs and come back to the TGF Blog to leave some love!

Let's get started . . .

TGF Blog

1LuvnMama => That's me!

Rachel Schneider

Tasha Beasley

Leanne Poe

Sparkle Smith

Carisa Zglobicki

Tracey Pickersgill

Denice Bartucci

Becca Fabozzi

Kim Yu

Jessica Diedrich

back to TGF Blog to leave your comment to WIN!

See you back soon and THANKS celebrating with THREE CHEERS for THREE YEARS! Here's to MANY more!

Thanks Dude!

Hey peeps!  Have you seen the newest images ready to be released come August 1st?  OMG!  As most of you know, TGF is turning a whoppin' 3!  Marie has some amazing images to go with this special occasion so check out the TGF Blog for some awesome creations by the Design Team.  Click {HERE} to see sneaks of Birthday Anya 2 and Birthday Ian.  More goodness to come so keep checking back at the TGF Blog.

Now, on to the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog's FFF challenge.  We'd like to see your "Gratuity Please"" and make a thank you project/card! Either for a specific person or just for your stash, just make something to tell someone thanks!

I decided to make a Thank You card geared to giving it to a guy/male in the future.  I rarely make guy Thank You cards since they only throw them in the trash.  YIKES!  After all that hard work . . . women seem to appreciate these cards more.  I've used Ian from the Later Sk8er set.  He's colored on Kraft with copics and the white areas with Prismacolor pencil.  Kept it pretty simple, no frills.

See his sunglasses?  He borrowed it from Anya (Rain Snow Shine set).  The sunglasses is propped on his forehead, that's how some of the young teens like to wear them these days.  Glossy Accents gave the lens a shine.

The FFF challenges runs until Thursday, entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner will receive a free single TGF stamp of choice!  Please upload your challenge cards to TGF Galleria> Farm Fresh Challenges 2011> Farm Fresh Fridays 2011> Gratuity Please.  Come join in on the fun!  Thanks for stoppin' in today!

Going BROWN!

Yep, I'm sorta on silent mode again.  Been running around gathering school supplies and still shuffling kids around.  Hopefully, things will settle down once my son starts school next Monday.  This weekend is no different . . . my family will be camping from Friday to Sunday.  Well, baby Asa and I will be joining the family for the day on Saturday and then returning Sunday morning. 

On to this week's challenge over at Farm Fresh Challenge Blog.  The team would like you to create in Sepia or browns.   Fun huh?  Join us!

Here's my circle shaped card using Anya from the Dress Me set.  I admit, I was going to take my final picture of Anya in her undies, but thought it might be to risque so I quickly colored up Anya's dress.  It totally made me feel better to showcase her like this.  I'm so not used to the whole sepia/brown look (almost monochromatic if you ask me), but I think the card came out just fine.

The W.O.W. challenge is open until Tuesday; entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner is chosen by random draw and wins a free digi of choice!  Please upload your challenge cards/projects to TGF Galleria > Farm Fresh Challenges 2011 > Which One Wednesday > Sepia/Brown.

That's it for me today.  I'll be back with another project on Friday!  :)  Thanks for stoppin' in and visiting!  I really appreciate it!

Smiles and Sunshine and a Bouquet of Flowers!

Oh, how have you been?  ;)  Sorry for being MIA, life just creeps up and snatches every single moment and minute.  I know I haven't been the best at visiting you and others on a more consistent basis although I really try to.  I now find myself checking blogs, commenting, and reading emails at night when the kids are asleep and after cleaning up.  By that time, I'm literally zapped and hardly have energy to keep my eyes open.  Just know that I appreciate you coming by my blog and leaving such sweet words! 

Well, today is FFF over at Farm Fresh Challenge Blog.  This week should be easy peasy! All you have to do is Piece It Together...otherwise known as paper piecing. You can piece as little or as much as you want!  Come join us!  :)

Here's my paper piecing on Blush Bonnie's dress.  I enjoy paper piecing but sometimes it's more of a challenge to cut around odd areas of images.  Ok, I really wanted to try this Double Twisted Easel Card.  I don't have a link to this card . . . all you have to do is google "Double Twisted Easel Card" - the flood gates will open!  Seriously!

A friend's birthday is coming up soon and I know she enjoys gardening.  Well, maybe it's more of a therapeutic thing.  In any case, I just want to wish her a sweet birthday!

Here's what the card looks like when folded to its original state.

This is the first panel.  Not sure if you can see, but I colored in areas with copics (W's) where there would be shadows on the paper pieced dress.  Crackle paint was added to the fence for a worn look and for more of a worn look, I smudge grey chalk over the crackled paint.

This is the second panel.  Since I don't garden (I'm a plant killer, don't have a Green Thumb), I'm sending this bouquet of flowers in a watering can.

Well, that's it for me!  Hope I didn't bore you.

The FFF challenges runs until Thursday, entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner will receive a free single TGF stamp of choice!  Please upload your challenge cards to TGF Galleria> Farm Fresh Challenges 2011> Farm Fresh Fridays 2011> Paper Piecing.  Thanks for stoppin' in!

Cupcake Wishes!

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  Did you watch the Women's World Cup Soccer?  Such a bummer for the USA . . . however, as US goalie Hope Solo said in an interview, much respect for the JAPAN team and well deserved.  Now, on to our Farm Fresh Challenge Blog MM challenge.  Our Team Captain, Rachel, chose this card created by Paula . . . 

Here is my CASE'ing of Paula's beautiful card.  Instead of a circle card, I decided to make a hexagon shaped card.  Since I used this yummy paper by BasicGrey, I had to color up Cupcake Anya (digi), she's perfect for it!  Oh yes, lots of buttons and a fun sentiment attached with a leaf stick pin.

A closeup of Cupcake Anya and her delish strawberry cupcake!  Yummo!

The Mystery Monday contest runs until Sunday, entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner is chosen by random draw and will win a free TGF single stamp of choice, so good luck!  Please post your cards in the TGF Galleria - Home > Farm Fresh Challenges 2011 > Mystery Mondays > Paula.

Wish BIG!

Hey, I'm back with a 'just-for-fun' project.  Today, I've used Mei Li from the new Sister Stamps, LLC.  She's just the cutest little thing don't ya think?  :)   Here is a card box that I created.  I followed the instructions from Beate Johns {HERE}.   The technique that I really wanted to try was making clouds for the background. My sweet friends Amy and Alice both did tutorials on how they make a cloud background.  Click {HERE} for Amy's tutorial & click {HERE} for Alice's one.  (Leanne, I finally did it!)

Here's a close up of Mei Li.  I paper pieced the top of her outfit and colored her pants with copics.  Can you believe this is an origami paper?  I had a pack of origami paper in my stash and luv'd the print, thus using it.  Might as well, it'll was there collecting dust.   

Mei Li is adhered to a band that wraps around the card box.  See how spacious the card box is when you open it up?  You can add some TY cards, a gift card, a small RAK, whatever!  I think I'm gonna make more of these in the future.

Well, that's it for me.  I'm trying to work on some other stuff, hopefully I'll be able to get them done and posted here.  Thanks for stoppin' by today!  :)

Pamper Yourself or should I say . . . Pamper MYSELF!

Today over at the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog, we have a Photo Inspiration challenge form you for our Which One Wednesday Challenge.  Wanna see the photo?  Here it is . . .

Luv-ly pastels and that baby nursery is adorable. 

Here is my take on the photo inspiration.

I used the Me Time set which I snagged during the last Farmers Market.  Anya fits perfectly on this French Fry box and had to include her bath slippers too.  The papers I used aren't the true pastels in the photo, but I thought why not go a couple of shades brighter!  :)  In the French Fry box, I've inserted a small bottle of Body Wash & Foam Bath Soap and a mini manicure set.  It would definitely make a nice gift to give someone.  However, in my subconscious mind, I think I really wanted to be pampered.  Don't we all need pampering from time to time?  Life is crazy and at the end of the day, I get just a sliver of Me Time.  Well, I'm in a season of raising very young children so hopefully life will get less hectic . . . . NOT!  What am I saying?  :) 

Anyway, I hope you'll join us in the challenge!  Click {HERE} for all the details!  Ta-ta . . . I'm off for some Me Time right now . . . a long hot shower (with my Body Wash & Foam Bath)!

I'm Blushing and Thinking of You . . .

Is it Monday already?  The week went by so fast.  Where does the time go?  Well, I'm back with another Blushing beauty.  It was my turn to choose a creation from the gallery to CASE for the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog's MM Challenge.  I saw a card made by Beansscrapsandsheep.  This is her card.

Here is my take on the CASE'd card.  What I luv'd about Beansscrapsandsheep's card was the monochromatic and vintagy look.  I decided to change it up a bit and went with orange.  This was a fun card to create because of all the added embellishments . . . the swirl rhinestones, the buttons, the twine, the butterfly, and the sweet sentiment that comes with Blush Bonnie!  :)  I actually stamped the sentiment inside a postage stamp and cut with the coordinating die from PTI.

A closer view of Blush Bonnie . . .

I hope you likey!  I luv'd how it turned out!  The MM contest runs until Sunday, entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner is chosen by random draw and will win a free TGF single stamp of choice, so good luck!  Please post your cards in the TGF Galleria - Home > Farm Fresh Challenges 2011 > Mystery Mondays > Beansscrapsandsheep.

'Tis the Season to be Jolly . . .

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in . . . July?!?  Over at the Farm Fresh Challenge Blog, we are challenging you to make any kind of project you want as long as it involves CHRISTMAS . . . candy canes, Christmas trees, snowflakes, Santa, presents, and your TGF stamps, you get it right?  We'd luv to see what you come up with and what better why to start on those x-mas cards! 

Today, I'm using this Cheeky gal from the "A Cheeky Xmas" set.  This is the first time I'm inking this baby up.  When I purchased her at its release, my intent was to use this stamp during the holiday season.  But, things happened, like the birth of my baby boy just before Thanksgiving.  So, now I'm getting the chance to showcase her!  :)

I always wanted to try this technique of stamping the image without or using less coloring.  It seemed like I needed to color something so I colored her Santa hat and made that the focal point of the image.  The image is actually inked with Faded Jeans Distress Ink and the other parts of Cheeky's outfit was colored with white Prismacolor pencil.  Along all the edges of the papers, I added crackle paint and Snow-Tex to give my card a snow frost feel.  I think I've achieved it here.

The FFF challenges runs until Thursday, entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner will receive a free single TGF stamp of choice!  Please upload your challenge cards to TGF Galleria> Farm Fresh Challenges 2011> Farm Fresh Fridays 2011> Xmas in July.  Thanks for stoppin' in!  Have a CHEEKY weekend!

Just Blushing and Just Because . . .

Are you ready for a sketch challenge?  The Farm Fresh Challenge Blog is having its W.O.W. challenge and here is the sketch by our Rachel Schneider.

Okay, have you seen these new babes?  Marie has created a new line of stamps called the Blush Society.  I am diggin', no LUVN these girlie's! 

Here's my card using Blush Babette.  I stuck to the sketch but made a little tweak here and there.  Blush Babette looks like such a sweet gal don't ya think?  Well, I can see an alter-ego coming out -- she's got a feisty streak in her, hence the emerald green hair!  I really wanted her to stand out so I cut a frame for her using my Spellbinders Labels 18.  My sweet teammate, Tasha, uses Liquid Pearls of some kind on almost all her cards.  I had to try it and boy, it's addictive!  First, I started on the base of the card and thought I would be done.  NOPE!  I worked on the next area and the next!  Pretty soon, I did the entire card!  :)  So much fun!

Here's a close up of Blush Babette.

The W.O.W. challenge is open until Tuesday; entries are due by 12 PM CST.  The winner is chosen by random draw and wins a free digi of choice!  Please upload your challenge cards/projects to TGF Galleria > Farm Fresh Challenges 2011 > Which One Wednesday > Sketch 7.  Hope you'll join us . . . thanks for stoppin' by today!

Dare To Dream . . .

Just poppin' in to say . . .

Happy 4th of July!

Hope everyone is staying safe and eating some good food with the ones you luv!  :)  I can't believe this, but I created a card for pure fun this time, not for a DT.  :)   If you've been hearing the buzz about Sister Stamps, then you are right with me (along with many, many other crafters)!  EXCITED, THRILLED, OH SO HAPPY!  :)  Local girl, Jenny, along with her sister Denise, have collaborated and created very cute Asian stamps!  They were released July 1st.  When I got my cuties, I had to immediately cut the rubber and ink it up. 

Today, I have Mei Lin to share with you.  This is not your traditional 4th of July card.  But hey, what the hay . . . I'm just happy to be spending this day with my family and thrilled to help celebrate Sister Stamps debut!

I made a little easel card.  See that sentiment (from PTI), I thought it was the perfect wording for Jenny and Denise.  "Dare to DREAM, then watch what happens."  I'm sure the thought of starting a small business must've been scary and pretty overwhelming.  Well, the DREAM has come true . . . now the adventure begins!

Mei Lin is right there celebrating and supporting this venture!  No worries in the world, just a free spirit.

Congratulations again Jenny and Denise! 

Have a great 4th everyone!