Thursday, March 14, 2013

2 challenges to join this month...get going!!

First challenge is from Zeus and Zoe Blog..Hosted by DT member, Dana and her sample project using Deco Art products, our sponsor this month.

The month of March brings longer days, warmer temperatures, the rebirth of flora and fauna and Spring! A talented set of new designers begin their term this month and to celebrate the commencement of the new design term and the upcoming Spring Equinox, the Zeus and Zoe Team challenges you to create a project inspired by the theme "New Beginnings." If you started a new job, moved to a new city, are taking a class, treated yourself to a makeover, repainted your house, celebrated the birth of a child, or are reorganizing your scrap space we want to see how this journey has inspired you! This theme is open for interpretation, so we are adding an additional requirement for this challenge to use a mask or stencil on your entry.


This beautiful calendar page came in my Zeus and Zoe Kit and I immediately fell in love with the image and gorgeous color palette. I always look forward to Spring when things begin to turn green and flowers begin to bloom and I created an inspirational piece to hang in my scrap room.


This quote sticker is part of the 7 Dots Studio Hopefully collection and fit perfectly with the New Beginning Theme for the challenge this month.


The Zeus and Zoe Etsy Shop has a fabulous selection of Manor House Creations flowers and vintage trinkets.


I used molding paste, a DecoArt Jacobean Floral Stencil and Glamour Dust Glitter Paint to add this flower design to my page. I love the glittery finish from the paint!

Our sponsor for March is DecoArt.


Since 1985, DecoArt has manufactured one of the broadest lines of acrylic paints and finishes for general arts and crafts use in the world. The line includes all-purpose acrylics for professional artists, crafters, and students. Located centrally in the United States, DecoArt manufactures numerous specialty paints that are designed specifically for surfaces like glass, ceramics, fabric, and metal, from its Stanford, Kentucky production facility.

Product Overview
DecoArt has one of the widest selections of paints and finishes for arts, crafts, and home decorating. DecoArt has a full product line which includes over 25 brands of paint and finishes. DecoArt products are sold in all major craft chain stores in the United States, as well as having a strong market presence internationally in over 75 countries abroad. 

Commitment to Quality 
DecoArt assures its loyal and new customers that they can use their products with confidence. All DecoArt products are non-toxic and user- and enviromently-friendly.

DecoArt makea safe products. Their paints and specialty products are made in the USA to federally-mandated and industry-wide safety and quality standards as established by the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). ACMI employs one of the nation's top independent toxicology groups at Duke University. All of the DecoArt formulas are reviewed and have been certified as non-toxic by this group. 

For a chance to win some DecoArt products link up your newly created project by the end of the month.

Prizes:








Random Prize:







Here are the rules: 
1. Projects must be linked up to our linky tool in the side bar, using the URL of the ACTUAL POST, not your entire blog. 
2. You may submit as many entries as you would like and combine your entry with up to 2 other challenges. 
3. Post this challenge to your blog and mention, in your post, that you are playing along at Zeus and Zoe TOGETHER with a link back to our Zeus and Zoe blog. 
4. All entries must be received by MIDNIGHT EST on the 31st of March. 
5. Entries to be submitted via the linky tool at the top of the sidebar ONLY, not by email and not by linking up in the comments section please. 

Information about our challenges: 
1. Zeus and Zoe Challenges are open to anyone, anywhere in the world. 
2. Our DT do their best to comment on all entries, you can make their job easier by turning off your word verification. 
3. Challenges are held monthly and each month TWO winners are chosen. One winner is chosen by our DT and the other is chosen by random draw. 
4. Challenge winners will always be announced within a week of the challenge closing and winners are then required to contact Marivic. 
5. Prizes not claimed within two weeks will be forfeited. 
6. The Merit winner will have an image of their project featured in the winners post, together with a link back to the homepage of their blog. 
7. Winners will be awarded a Winner's Badge to post on their blog...full bragging rights included! 


Second Challenge:



DT member, Kay is hosting this challenge. Below is her sample project.



Welcome to the March Challenge! 
 Kay here hosting my very first challenge for Berry71Bleu. 
I decided to go with a bright & 'colorful' theme--therefore this month's theme is "You Color My World" & the challenge is to use paint in your project.

I'd like for you to base your project on someone that just brightens your life. That one person(s) that adds 'color' to your life--that gives your life meaning & makes it all worthwhile. It can even be a pet! Being an owner of one very lovable fur baby I know how much unconditional love & happiness a pet can bring into someone's life--so yes, even pets count & yes it can be more than one person! If that person(s) or pet puts a smile on your face--then create a project in their honor!  You do not necessarily have to make it a bright & colorful project--just use the photos as inspiration since they are all lively & joyful photos.

The challenge is to incorporate paint into your project.  You can use paint in many ways on your projects--to add texture to your backgrounds, to add random splatters of color, to color embellishments such as chipboard...let your creativity be your guide!

At first I was going to scrap my newborn son--what can add more happiness & joy to someone's life than their first child right?  Then I thought...hmmm, can't leave Toby my fur baby out--he taught me the meaning of unconditional love!  Then after more thought I realized that I wouldn't have Toby or my son if it weren't for my husband.  So I based the page on him--the beginning of it all & the reason as to why I have the family that I'm part of today.


My husband is my better half & who started it all by asking 'Will you marry me?'  It was his idea to get Toby--it'll be our 'practice' child--that was how he was trying to sell the idea to me.  After much debate & much begging (from him) Toby came into our lives.  Five years later after my husband convinced me that yes, it was indeed time for me to become a mom & yes, I am capable of being a good mom--our son was born.  I take each step in life very carefully--however, my husband tends to be the one to give me that much needed final push to move forward.  So this project is dedicated to him, with much love!


I painted all of the chipboard cogs & gears with paints sponsored by DecoArt.  I had the pleasure of working with both their Ultra Frosted Fun paint & Twinkles Glistening Accents paint.  I first primed the chipboard with a bit of gesso.  Once dry I gave them all color with the blue frosted paint.  When that layer dried I applied both purple & blue twinkle paint to finish it up.  The twinkle paint was my favorite.  As you can see, this paint gave my cogs an amazing glittery texture!


I included these two paint brushes to be symbolic of having my husband 'color' my world.  These were actually the brushes I used to paint my chipboard cogs.  I just cleaned them a bit & adhered them to my page.


The light orange polka dots were made by using the Mod stencil also sponsored by DecoArts.  

You can find more details & closeups on my blog.  Ok, so now it's your turn!  Looking forward in seeing all those meaningful works of art from all of you...enjoy the rest of the week!

Following are the prizes & the rules...

March Sponsor
The prize:

The sponsor of our March Challenge is DecoArt.


"Since 1985, DecoArt has manufactured one of the broadest lines of
acrylic paints and finishes for general arts and crafts use in the
world. The line includes all-purpose acrylics for professional artists,
crafters, and students. Located centrally in the United States, DecoArt
manufactures numerous specialty paints that are designed specifically
for surfaces like glass, ceramics, fabric, and metal, from its Stanford,
Kentucky production facility"

Product Overview
DecoArt has one of the widest selection of paints and finishes for arts, crafts, and home decorating. DecoArt has a full product line which includes over 25 brands of paint and finishes.

Our products are sold in all major craft chain stores in the United States, as well as having a strong market presence internationally in over 75 countries abroad.

Our Commitment to Quality
DecoArt assures its loyal and new customers that they can use our products with confidence.
All DecoArt products are non-toxic and user and enviromently-friendly.
We make safe products.  Our paints and specialty products are made in the USA to federally-mandated and industry wide safety and quality standards as established by the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). ACMI employs one of the nation's top independent toxicology groups at Duke University.  All of our formulas are reviewed and have been certified as non-toxic by this group.

http://www.decoart.com

The winner of our March Challenge will win the following prize package from DecoArt:


The prize includes:  Three 8 pot paints; Americana Radiance, Dazzling Metallics Shimmer and Americana Pastel. Three stencils; Jacobean Floral, Flutterbies and Art Nouveau Medallions, along with a Medium assortment including Weathered Wood, Pearlizing, Fabric Painting, Thickening Medium, Drying Time Extended Medium and Staining Antiquing Medium.


There will also be a random winner who will win a this set of Craft Twinkles Writers:




Rules

1. You are allowed to make a an altered/off the page project as long as you follow the challenge specifications.

2. Projects must be linked up to our linky tool in the sidebar, using the URL of the ACTUAL POST not your entire blog.

3. You may submit as many entries as you want and combine your entry with up to 2 other challenges.

4. It is required that you mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Berry71Bleu TOGETHER with a link back to our blog.

5. All entries must be received by MIDNIGHT EST on the 31st day of the month the challenge was posted.

6. Entries to be submitted via the linky tool at the top of the sidebar ONLY, not by email and not by linking up in the comments section please.

Information About Our Challenges

1.  Berry71Bleu Challenges are open to anyone, anywhere in the world.

2.  Our Design Team do their best to comment on all entries, you can make their job easier by turning OFF your word verification.  Try it and if spam is a problem you can always enable comment moderation.

3.  Challenges are held monthly and each month TWO winners are chosen.  One winner is chosen by our design team, who all vote for the project they consider to be the best,while another winner is chosen by random draw.

4.  Challenge winners will always be announced within a week of the challenge closing and winners are then required to contact our Sponsor Co-ordinator, Agnieszka at starhorse@onet.eu

5.  Prizes not claimed within 2 weeks of the challenge closing will be forfeited.

6.  The Merit winner will have an image of their project featured in 
the winners post, together with a link back to the homepageof their blog.

7.  Merit winners will be awarded a Winner's Badge to poston their blog - full bragging rights included!


Happy Creating!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Happy March....

How are you all?

I hope you are now enjoying a little warmth from the sun as spring is almost here...We're all ready to see blooming flowers, colorful butterflies, leaves budding from trees and my most anticipated ones...picking strawberries in the springtime.

I would like to announce our winner from last month's giveaway, but first of all, thank you to all who started following me and had left me wonderful comments. I appreciate you being here.

The winner of February giveaway is...Amy Voorthuis!

Congrats Amy!

If you haven't won yet, you still have a chance. Just become a follower and leave me a comment, if you are already a follower, thank you!!  for extra points spread the word about my giveaway on your blog.

Thank you again..for this month's prize...Mixed Media items filled with embellishments...ephemera paper pack, album cover with fibers, metal and rhinestone embellishments, trims...You can have fun with this one.

These are items similar to what I sell on my etsy shop here.


Spread the word and win the prize...
Link up your name to the linky tool on the bottom of this post.

See you soon and have a great weekend !!


Friday, February 22, 2013

Winner of BlogHop Stila Lip Gloss

I've been sick with the flu the past week that's why this post is delayed. The winner of the Lip Gloss Set is Elizabeth Sarkis! Congrats Elizabeth!! Pls email me your address...Berry71bleu@gmail.com Thanks everyone for your comments. I will have more prizes coming up...I hope to see you soon..

Thursday, February 14, 2013

This way to the BLOG HOP

Welcome to the Berry71Bleu Love Blog Hop!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

If you are here from Marilyn's Blog, then you are at the right place and this is 
the next stop..

And your next word is..."IS"

In case you get lost, follow the links below...

Today is a day all about love . . .   Each of our designers is going to share with you something or someplace they love where they live.  This should be interesting since we have ladies from the USA, Poland, India and Puerto Rico. 

The blog hop starts at Berry71Bleu
and the rest of the order is as follows:
Berry71Bleu 


I am sharing with you my favorite things that I LOVE to collect..

Here is a glimpse of my studio and my favorite things..

I love vintage rhinestone necklaces and brooches..




I love vintage doilies...


I love collecting these handmade hat stick pins


I love craft and journal books


I love looking at my board when I am on the computer, I just look up and I see pictures of everyone I
love.


Next stop....BERRY71BLEU

Thanks for letting me share my favorite things that I love. Scroll down the bottom of the page and check out my giveaway for Valentine's Day..



We have a fabulous prize for one lucky person who completes all of the rules of the blog hop,  a 7 Dots Studio collection, Domestic Goddess:

To qualify for this month's FABULOUS Prize you must complete the following:

* Visit each blog listed on the hop to see what each designer has to share with you and leave a comment.
* Each designer's blog hop post will feature a word to make up a secret sentence, 
collect these words along the way.
* You must become a FOLLOWER of each blog along the way
 and LIKE us on our Facebook Page!
* For your last stop on our Blog Hop return here to the Berry71Bleu Blog.
Leave a comment letting us know you have
completed the hop.
(Please do NOT include the secret sentence in your comments.)
Now comes the hard part, you must take the words you have collected along the blog hop and  unscramble them to create a sentenence.

*Email the secret sentence to Debbie: mdjsburns@aol.com
The Blog Hop ends Sunday, February 17th at Midnight CST

Don't forget that I have a February giveaway...Look on the sidebar and become a follower and leave me a comment that you have done so. For extra point, put my prize on your blog's sidebar for a greater chance of winning....

Okay..I know this is a lot of information, but if you have read the whole post that means you are on your way to winning.

Since today is Valentine's Day, I have a giveaway for that one special person. You are all special to me and unfortunately I can only give this to one person.

This is my Valentine present to you...as a commenter of this post and my past posts and for following the rules of the hop. I figured I will come up with a little prize from me...No crafting stuff this time. Just something to make you more gorgeous!

Lucky winner will receive this from me. I ordered this especially for you as a valentine gift.
To thank you for being here and I hope we can visit each other's blog more often.

Just become a follower and leave me comment and of course, complete the blog hop...
Easy, right?

Once in awhile I will give cosmetics as giveaways...Really, scrapbooking materials/supplies will not keep you looking pretty all the time. Don't get me wrong, we all love Prima, WP, Golden Art Supplies, Tim Holtz, watercolor pencils, etc...But once in awhile we need to think of ourselves and give ourselves some pampering. You deserve it!! I just did! Got myself some make-up and one for you too.
Remember, you are beautiful inside and out..





HUGS,
Marivic

P.S. winner of the lipgloss set will be announced next week.

Monday, February 4, 2013

My February giveaway

Here is my "valentine" theme giveaway..Follow my blog and leave me a comment that you did so. If you are already a follower just let me know and for an extra chance to win, post my giveaway on your blog.

These are all from my stash..You will get 12x12 papers, stickers, cards, journaling cards, tickets, glittered die-cuts..

Thanks for stopping by!




January Winner and a challenge for you to join..

Hi everyone,

Sorry I am a little behind in posting the January stash winner..

This past weekend we decided to go camping...It's a spur of the moment thing.

We went camping at a national park, It was very quiet and very wooded. I've never seen so many stars.
The kids had fun but I got sick with a cold. Me and the outdoors don't get along very well...every time we go camping, I get sick.




I think they enjoy burning marshmallows more than anything. We went through a whole bag just watching it burn.



What did you do this weekend?

I hope you also had great time!

Now... let's go to the winner of my January prize!
But first, thank you all for the comments and adding the photo prize on your blog. And thank you for following my blog.

Not very much of a blogger lately but I will keep giving prizes away every month. 

The winner of January prize is....


Congrats Buffy!! Please email me your address to berry71bleu@gmail.com

I will take photos of my next prize and will post later today and add a link to it.
Want to win? Come back later today ok?

Another challenge for February from Berry71bleu


'White Space'


by Anupama



WhiteSpace is defined as

 the portion of a page left unmarked or blank in visual arts. 
I love using whitespace (or negative space as some may call it) 
in my design as it adds an edge to the page composition! 
I am a trained interior designer and have always been impressed by stark minimalism. I guess that the same design sensibilities have spilt over into my scrapbook pages. 
So here is a chance to come out of your comfort zone!
Go ahead and play with space...
You would be surprised by the results -
Always STUNNING!

Our Sponsor for this month's challenge is UHK Gallery
The winner of our February Challenge will win this My Dear Watson paper collection.


along with 2 other collections - Queen of Hearts & Love is in the Air
from

We are a team of creative women who cannot imagine their world without paper, glue and creative process. Scrapbooking is our passion. And we love to share our passion with other scrapbookers. For this reason, 7 Dots Studio exists.
Quality of our products is our priority. Each of our collections is made of highest quality materials - thick scrapbooking paper (250gsm), acid-free, lignin-free, archival and highest quality matt stickers. We use materials from leading manufacturers in the paper industry.

Queen of Hearts

Love is in the Air

The 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive the Dreamer Collection from 7 Dots Studio.


Here's what I made with Marivic's gorgeous tag and the 'whitespace' theme -


Marivic's Vintage tag set the mood of the page and I chose to scrap a picture of my mom from the early 1960s when she was a young teen growing up in India.


To balance the ornate tag, I applied glimmermist on the other side with a paint brush and a mask. Script stamps and butterfly washi tape complement the stenciling.  


Instead of treating the chipboard with wet media, I opted for washi tape and chalk edgers to cover the frame.


I can't wait to see what you create!

If you wish to see more of Anu's work, please visit her blog -

Not to forget Zeus and Zoe challenge as well

This one is hosted by Gayle Price



Hi every one, Gayle here to present the February Challenge. As if you  didn't already know, it is the month of love.
I am also admitting to you that my birthday falls on February 14th. Yes, I am a Valentines Day baby, made with love.
So, my challenge choice is to create a project about LOVE.................
That gives you lots of different options and interpretations to choose from.
The only stipulation is that the WORD "LOVE" must be obvious on your project. 
It could be Valentined themed or marriage, children, home, animals, food, music, sports,, shoes, chocolate. Whatever your heart tells you to express that is all about LOVE.

In my Zeus and Zoe kit , Marivic included this chipboard house. Oh, what do I do with it !
Well, I think love begins at home. Home is where the heart is, and home is where every one should feel safe and loved, so I have very lovingly decorated this little house and included some family members peeking out through the windows. There is also a doll peeking out the window and her name is Mary, I have had her all my life and I love her too.







Winners Prize

This sweet winners prize consists of:
 Apricot paper and lace roses
Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Worn Lipstick
Kaisercraft 6" paper pad- Secret Admirer
Magnolia paper blooms and a
Matha Stewart Doily Punch.

We hope to see your amazing work!!

See you soon...