BLOGGERS CHALLENGE #156 plus FIRECRACKER DESIGNS AND PAPER TEMPTRESS BLOG HOP!

Hello! Welcome to the OPEN ROADS themed Blog Hop for Firecracker Designs By Pamela and Paper Temptress!

The official start time of this Hop is Friday, at 8:00 AM(EST). If you arrived early, please be patient as all the links may not be live yet.

Todays BLOG HOP has a OPEN ROADS theme... It is finally summer and that means ROAD TRIPS! Road trips are all about the tunes right?

Since we enjoyed tha last music hop so much, let's make something that focuses on your favorite travellin' tunes!

This is a “circular blog hop” where the only beginning is wherever you start!! You will know you are at the end of your blog hop when you’ve come back to the blog you’ve started from! (It’s not a huge circle…so it should be easy to remember where you started.)

**To find out if you’ve won… you will be contacted by Pamela via e-mail (so be sure to leave it with your comment.) and you can also find out on Pamela’s blog after the blog hop ends on Mon, at 8:00 PM (EST).**

I combined one of my cards with this Blog Hop with the BLOGGERS CHALLENGE which is THIS SKETCH...

My Travelling Tune was The Climb. I chose this as it speaks to me about My Dreams - and the goals I have and where I have been and where I want to go in my life. The Climb for me has been such a blessing. I know I would NOT be WHO I am without all of the different events I have lived through... Good, Bad and Ugly.

Here is the video for you to enjoy.

OK...now that you enjoyed the video, here is some information about my FUN projects!!!

My first card is using the Bloggers Challenge Sketch! Since Firecracker Designs By Pamela and Paper Temptress have combined this Blog Hop, I was blessed with the chance to use Paper Temptress's GORGEOUS Papers -

I used the Technique Junkie Newsletter June/ July 2010 Edition and used the Copic Expressions technique - once finished, I used the final step and added a hint of Autumn Glimmer Mist to the knight! I love the Technique Junkie Newsletter, as it gives you step by step instructions!

The YUMMY papers I used are from the Paper Temptress and I have to say...while shopping for these papers, I got lost in the selection and had SUCH A hard time choosing which of these beauties I wanted to get. I have NOT been sorry YET with the ones I have chosen. On this project I used the Copper cardstock and the Sparkle Abysse. The Sparkle Abysse is just DAZZLING without the mess! :) For the background, I used the Recycled Classic Natural cardstock - this has a nice texture that is not too grooved and I was able to achieve a beautiful finish on the copper embossing.

A few more details: I used the She Dreams set from Firecracker Designs By Pamela

Accessories: Copper Gems, Aged Brads, Nestibilities, Heat Tool, Copper Ink, Copper Embossing Powder, Autumn Glimmer Mist, Dimensionals

A quick paper saving tip!!!! With gorgeous papers that might cost you a bit more, in order to save money AND get a little bit more mileage out them in your paper crafting needs (especially if you like to layer, like I do!!!) I trim out the inside of the layers... this saves me on weight of the card for mailing purposes AND saves me money on the cardstock!

So my copper layering piece for the circle came out of the remaining scrap!

Now for my second card I used the Faux Dominoes technique from the

Technique Junkie Newsletter June/ July 2010 Edition...

The papers I chose for this project are ohhhh soooooo pretty in real life!!! I wish you could poke your head through my computer and look at the texture and shimmer!!! On second thought, you would see my VERY MESSY work space! So be glad you can only view it here and you will have to actually ORDER these beauties from the Paper Temptress! I used the Cryogen White Iridescent cardstock and the gorgeous Green Textured cardstock that has a hammered effect look to it... SO COOL!

Once again, I used the She Dreams set from Firecracker Designs By Pamela

Accessories: Green Pearl Gems, Corner Rounder, Technique Junkie Newsletter, Martha Stewart Punch, Satin Ribbon

Here is a close up of the shimmery iridescent paper!

Now, to continue the circle, you will need to hop on over to the talented Michelle's BLOG and keep going until you’ve come back to where you’ve started!

Thanks so much for playing along with us and we hope you have a great time! When you are all finished hopping, you can check out the other Blogger Challenge participants projects click on the side bar that says BLOGGERS Challenge!