We Have a Winner!!!!!

The winner of The Paper Retreat giveaway for a prize pack of embellishments is.....................

LAURALEE!!!!!!!

Congrats Lauralee!  Thanks so much for sharing my giveaway and for becoming a new 'liker' of The Paper Retreat Facebook page!!!!

I sent you a message on Facebook for your addy!  Congrats again!  I am hoping you will get to use these embellishments soon - would love to see what you do with them!  :)

To everyone else, thanks so much for becoming Facebook fans and for leaving such sweet comments about my 'BEE-utiful card!'  Looking forward to getting to know each of you better!

Mel

Delight in The Little Things!

Today I created a fun, vintage inspired, card for the Ippity Challenge!  The challenge is to use any Itty Bitty Stamp Set!  I have many of these sets and have been anxious to put them to use!  Love this baby carriage and the sentiment is just the sweetest!  This Itty Bitty Stamp Set is called "Delight in The Little Things" by Simple Stories.

Other Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! and DCWV
Patterned Paper: Recollections and Simple Stories
Twine: The Twinery
Pearls: Creative Charms
Circle Die: Sizzix
Flower: Unknown (Found a pack of them in a clearance bin at Michaels!)
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink & Stampin' Up!
Paint: Jenni Bowlin/Ranger Paint Dabber

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway!  It ends this Saturday at Midnight CST!  See giveaway post HERE.

Happy Friday! 
Mel

'True Love' Card, Freebie Hunting & An Update to My Giveaway!

Happy Tuesday everyone!  Today I have a card to share and some noteworthy freebies.  Also, an update to my giveaway - you won't want to miss this!!!!!!  :) 

Today's card was really simple to make! The 'True Love' sentiment makes this card perfect for a wedding.  I used neutral colors to keep it simple and elegant.  I love how this turned out!

A close-up of the hearts that I stamp embossed onto the card.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: 'True Love' sentiment by Papertrey Ink, Heart Background by Unity Stamps
Cardstock: Recollections by Michaels
Oval Punches by Stampin' Up!
Gems by Creative Charms
Ink: Stampin' Up!
Embossing Glitter: Martha Stewart Crafts 


Freebies!!!!
Lettering Delights 'Back to School' Printables for FREE!  These are adorable!  Download HERE! 

SVGCuts latest SVG Freebie!  "I Love You" Caption - LOVE it!!!  Grab it HERE!

Giveaway Reminder!  I have a giveaway the ends on Saturday - All you have to do is 'LIKE' my Facebook page and leave a comment on the Giveaway post linked HERE!  So Easy!  If you decide to share my giveaway on your blog/FB page, you will earn an extra chance at the giveaway, make sure to note this in your comment.  Also, if more than 50 people enter the giveaway (right now there are only 18 entered, I will throw in a My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pad (shown below).  If more than 100 people enter, I will also throw in a Stampin' Up! 12x12 patterned paper pad and 3 ink pads (shown below). 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enter my giveaway!!!!

Mel 

You're Bee-utiful & TPR Giveaway!!!!

Happy Monday!  Today I have created a fun card to give someone special in my life.  She is the sweetest grandma ever, so, I made a card for her to show my appreciation! 

To make this card, I used Lori Whitlock's Flip Swing Bracket Card SVG (link HERE).  Isn't this a super fun SVG to play with!  I made my BEE-utiful (bee themed) card with these other fun materials:

Cardstock & Patterned Paper by Stampin' Up!
Yellow Cardstock by Baazzil Basics
Sentiment stamps by My Thoughts Exactly
Bee embellishments by Recollections
Border die by Papertrey Ink
Star background stamp by Unity Stamp Co.
Ink by Stampin' Up!

Now for the FUN!!!!  It is GIVEAWAY time at The Paper Retreat!  To celebrate my new name and updated blog, I am giving away a pile of embellishments from my craft stash!!!  Yippee Yippee Joy Joy!!!!  I have used many of these embellishments in my projects and know you would love to get your hands on these too!  There are embellishments from Prima (package of 6 flowers), Creative Charms, Autumn Leaves, Maya Road, My Minds Eye (package of Everyday Fun embellishments), just to name a few!  I even included one of the bees I used for my card above!

UPDATE!!!!  How would you like to win more goodies????  If more than 50 people enter this giveaway, I will be sweetening the pot with a My Mind's Eye 6x6 paper pack.  If more than 100 people enter the giveaway, I will be adding 3 ink pads and a 12x12 patterned paper pad from Stampin' Up!.

To enter the Giveaway, please like my new Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ThePaperRetreat and leave a comment on this post!  That's it, really easy!!!!  If you want to earn an EXTRA CHANCE, spread the word about my giveaway on your blog and/or Facebook page (and make sure to mention it in your comment)!  The giveaway will end on August 11th at Midnight CST!  Good Luck!

I am entering my card into the "A Flair for the Electric" blog party at Paper Issues.  They have an awesome giveaway too!  Check it out HERE.
Mel

Unity Challenge! Love These Stamps!

The latest challenge at Unity is to make a project relating to a wedding.  The challenge "I Do" is linked here: Unity Stamp Company Challenge! 

A few months ago, I stocked up on Unity Stamps (there was a huge sale and I couldn't resist, so much Unity cuteness out there!) and believe it or not, I just opened up some of the packages.  It felt like Christmas in July!  :)

Here is my entry.  I love all of the pink and black yumminess in this card!  Enjoy!

Craft Supplies:
Unity Stamps - Hearts of Old Background Stamp, Sentiment from Precious Little One Set, Bracket from Ippity Life's Little Moments Set
Stampin' Up! Punches - 5 Petal Flower (Layered Multiple Times), Circle, & Scalloped Circle
Paper by My Mind's Eye & Stampin' Up!
Buttons - Papertrey Ink & Autumn Leaves Bag O' Buttons
Black Stickles
Twine - Papertrey Ink
Ink - Ranger Distress Ink in Black, Melon Mambo & Black Ink by Stampin' Up!
Creative Charms Gem
Black Border Die from Papertrey Ink
Lace Ribbon from Michaels

If this project inspired you, leave me a comment.  Would love to hear from you!
Mel

Digi Die Cuts - SVG Freebies Galore!!!!

So I might be living in the dark ages, but I just discovered Digi Die Cuts - they sell very beautiful SVGs for use with your die-cutting machine.  They have a new freebie each week!  This week's freebie is this super cute ribbon:

There are 10 (yes 10!!!) other freebies available!  If you haven't already, go grab these!  Check out their store for other SVGs available for a small fee - well worth the price!  I like that you pay for the individual SVGs versus having to buy a whole collection when all you may want is one of the SVGs in the collection.

Here is a link to the freebies!  Enjoy!

Also, please stop by and "Like" my new Facebook page.  Say hi and share a link to your FB page/blog too.  I would love to see what you are working on!

Mel

My New Facebook Page! Stop By & Like!

Hi everyone, with the change of my blog from "In Love with a Bug" to "The Paper Retreat," I have created a Facebook page for "The Paper Retreat."  Would love for you to come by and "Like" my new page - http://www.facebook.com/ThePaperRetreat.  I will be sharing lots of fun projects, sales info, etc. and don't want you to miss out on the fun.  Also, I will be having a giveaway soon!!!

FYI - The "In Love with a Bug" Facebook page is being switched over to my small business so I will no longer share my papercrafting projects on this page.

Hope to see you on Facebook at The Paper Retreat!  :)
Mel