Sunshine Blogger Award

I'm very excited to announce that I am a proud recipient of the Sunshine Blogger Award! Thanks so much, Sandra, for passing it on to me - you're so sweet! :)

Here are the rules for the Sunshine Award:

1. Include the award logo in your post (check!)

2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you and link back to them (done!)

3.) Answer 10 questions about yourself that you have come up with (see below!)

4. Nominate up to 10 bloggers and let them know (on my way!)

1. When did you start crafting?
I started "seriously" crafting about a year and a half ago... but I have always been a crafter in some way, shape, or form. When I was kid my favorite thing to make was giant cards made out of poster boards for my friends' birthdays!

2. What's your favorite color?
Maroon :)

3. What's one fun fact about yourself?
I can't wink my right eye... only my left one. Oh, and I can't whistle.

4. What is your occupation?
I currently work two part-time library jobs but am studying to become an elementary school teacher.

5. What's your favorite food?
That's a tough one... anything salty/sweet!

6. Do you have any pets?
I have one dog named Cody, he's a soft-coated wheaten terrier and such a sweetheart.

7. What's your favorite part about blogging?
Being able to share the projects I've made with other crafters and being inspired by all the gorgeous work I see. :)

8. What are your favorite items to craft with?
Oooh! Anything sparkly... and my Cricut of course! 

9. What do you like to do when you're not crafting?
I love to read, and baking is fun, too!

10. Have any obsessions?
Paper, paper, and more paper!

Now to pass this award on to 10 fabulous bloggers....

Stacy from Vampire Craftin - For designing my awesome blog layout!

Tonya from Scrapping Fun with Tonya - For always being so helpful! 

Beckie from Just B Creative Crazy - For helping kick off the Made Especially For You challenges!

And as a whole... I would like to pass this award on to all of my design team members... Even though I'm so sad our challenges are coming to an end, I am so, so, grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and get to know everyone! They are such a fabulous team and their creations each week leave me in awe because of how gorgeous they always are! Not to toot my own horn or anything - but they're one of the most talented design teams I've ever seen!

Cyndy from Arcy Scraps

Eileen from The Scrapping Actuary

Jessica from Craftin' and Stampin'

Kristy from Scraptastical Kreations

Laura from Scrappin' Around the Clock

Pam from Scrappin' Fab Pam

Robin from The Cricut Scrapper

A big thanks to each and every one of you!

Liebster Blog Award

I am so honored to accept the Liebster Blog Award from a great friend of mine, Becky from Becky's Sweet Creations. I designed on Becky's DT for a while and now she designs on mine. :) Thanks so much, Becky! :) 

"The origins of the Liebster Blog award are somewhat unclear but the general consensus is that it originated in Germany, Liebster meaning favorite or dearest, to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note."

Here are the rules:

1- Choose FIVE up and coming blogs to award the Liebster to. Blogs must have less than 200 followers.

2- Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3-Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their sites

I am passing this award on to the following five wonderful ladies and their blogs:

Pam - Scrappin Fab Pam

Michelle - Cards by Mee Chelle

Jessica - Craftin' and Stampin'

Gabrielle - Gaby's Papery

Tabitha - Zippity-Do-Dah

Thanks again, Becky! It's been a while since I've received a blog award. :) I'll be adding this award to my 'Blog Awards' page here on my blog. 

Ashley

Thank You Card & A Blog Award

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a great start to your week. :) I just got home from school and work and thought I'd share with you the thank you card I sent to my friend Katlyn for designing my new blog header and button. Her digital stamp store is awesome and her designs are so cute! Make sure to stop by and browse if you have the chance. :)

Front of the card: I have some great red and black ribbon that I really need to start using more often and I saw this as the perfect opportunity. I added the flower embellishments for an extra effect and also distressed the border around them with red and black ink, although it's hard to see in the picture. I really like the parallel effect of white on black and black on white with red as an accent color.

Inside of the card: I wrote a thank you message on the white half and left the black half blank.

Back of the card: I added the 'Made Especially For You' because that's a "signature" touch I add on all of my cards, and also where the name for my blog came from, but I'll explain that in a later post. :) I also added some more flowers and the polka dot ribbon that was used on the front of the card.

I recently received this award from two fellow bloggers: Laura over at Laura's Crafts and More and Karla over at Made By Karla. Thanks so much Laura and Karla, I really appreciate it! :)

I've added this award to my new "Blog Awards" page. I found it so helpful to have one of these so my sidebar wasn't always so crowded. It works great! I'd also like to pass along this award to the following three bloggers:

Linda at My Passion Is... She is an absolutely amazing scrapbooker and photographer, her creations are always fun to look at! :)

Sherry at Up Or Down They're Beautiful A wonderful crafter who always has fun tips, inspiring words and great projects! :)

Lisa at Lisa's Little Bits A fellow design team member that I can't wait to work with, her posts are so fun to read and her creations are so cute! :)

There's only 3 days left to enter my blog candy giveaway - I'm only 13 followers away from reaching my goal... that's so close! :) I can only do it with your help, make sure to tell all your friends! 

Thanks for reading!
Ashley