Blogiversary Giveaway!

Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well!  We have had a jam packed two days of family fun and we are gearing up for some more!  I'm not even sick of Thanksgiving food yet.  I could really go for some more.

Today is my Blogiversary!  It's been 8 years since I started my blog!  Holy moly!  That's a long time! To celebrate, I'm purchasing and giving away a $16 (it's my lucky number) gift certificate to Butterfly Reflections Ink.  I love this store and I love the Vanessa is following her dreams of owning a scrapbook store!  I think it's really important to support small businesses too!

Right now, Butterfly Reflections Ink is having a HUGE sale!  Vanessa has 20% off the whole store including all the sale and clearance items!  Go get some fabulous new goodies!  (I've used my affiliate link and if you purchase using my link, I will get a small commission.)

To enter the giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway Have a great day, friends!  

Just Jewelry Black Friday Sale

Hi friends!  I hope you had an AMAZING Thanksgiving!  I just wanted to pop by with a really quick post.

http://www.justjewelry.com/ashleynewell

My Black Friday sale on my Just Jewelry website is LIVE!  You get 25% off everything in the store and there are specials items that are marked even lower than 25% off!  It ends at midnight so for the best selection, shop now!

So Grateful for You!

Hi friends!  Hope you are doing well! We are on Thanksgiving break and mostly we've been relaxing.      It finally looks like fall around here too.  We have to enjoy it while it lasts because next week everything will just be brown and ugly.  

Today, I'm sharing some simple cards I made to attach to some bags of cookies I gave to the kids's teachers and in the front office at school.  I LOVE Becky Higgings Project Life Cards for quick cards!  The 3x4 inch size is perfect.  Sometimes I use patterned ones from the Core Kits but for this project I used grid cards.  I added some coral washi tape and some gold foil leaf stickers from the Target Dollar Spot.  I stamped a Close to My Heart sentiment and leaves in brown ink.  After that, I just wrote the person's name at the top and signed our name at the bottom.  Easy peasy!  

Have a great day, friends!  And if I don't talk to you, Happy Thanksgiving!

Just Jewelry Giveaway!

Hi friends!  How are you?  I hope you are well.  We are ok.  We are a bit busy and gearing up for Thanksgiving break.  My boys will be off for a week but it's gonna be a busy one.

I wanted to express my gratitude for everything that my Just Jewelry business has given me this year so I posted a giveaway to my Just Jewelry by Ashley Facebook page.  I'm giving away a $15 gift certificate to shop with me.  You can buy ANYTHING you want.  If you'd like to enter, please go HERE.  Here are some examples of things you can purchase on my website.

Have a great day, friends!  I hope you'll stop by and enter my giveaway!

Will You Help Me Make a New Ribbon Banner?

Hi friends!  I hope you are well!  Sigh... I fell off the blogging wagon.  This weekend was rough both with all that's happening in this world and personally.  I just didn't feel like blogging so I didn't force it.

Last month when I was making my Halloween ribbon banner, I had a fun thought.  What if I could make a ribbon banner with a bunch of pics of ribbon from my friends?  I'm hoping to get 12 inch pieces of ribbon from a bunch of friends.  I was thinking my friends could write their names on the ribbons with Sharpie.  This way, I will have a decoration that I can pull out every year and it will have such an amazing meaning.

Please email me or message me on Facebook if you'd be willing to send me a ribbon for my banner.  I have tons of ribbon, just no ribbon that has any meaning behind it.  Have a great day, friends!  

Sending Love to All

Movember

Hi friends!  I hope you are well!  We are doing pretty good.  Gearing up for life to get busy around here.

Have you guys heard of Movember?  It's a campaign to spread awareness about Men's Health.  During the month of November, men are encouraged to grow out their moustaches to "let their face be a billboard for men's health."  They focus on 4 areas: Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, Mental Health, and Physical Inactivity.  Participants are asked to grow out their moustaches and collect donations on their fundraising page which will go to charities helping me with the focus areas I listed.    My husband Dustin decided to join in this year.  His goal is to raise $400 to help these charities.  He has not raised any money yet but hopefully, he will be able to.  If you'd like to donate, you can check out HIS PAGE.

Also, let me tell you, it's so nice for our family to be fundraising without me having to spearhead that campaign.  ;)  I gotta teach my boys that health for men is just as important as breast cancer awareness and the Red Dress Campaign.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Do You Konmari?

Hi friends!  I hope you are well!  We are doing ok.  I'm ready for the weekend!

I have a bit of a different post today.  I've decided to try a method of decluttering your home called Konmari.  It's explained in the book I linked above.  Essentially, you rid your house of anything that doesn't bring you joy.  I'm excited to start.  I'm AWFUL!  I'm practically a hoarder.  My house NEVER looks ready for company and I'm overwhelmed by the mess.  I really badly need a change.  Have you done this method?  I know it's very popular right now.  If so, please let me know how it worked for you!

Have a great day, friends!  

Super Cute Kid Treat

Hi friends!  I hope you well!  I am getting LATE with this blogging thing!  I also forgot to take pictures of the crafts I completed so I'm just off my game.

Today, I'm sharing a SUPER cute treat that I help my friend Megan prepare at her daughter's birthday.  They are dirt and worm cups.  I've made dirt and worms before for my kids but I never thought of using an already made pudding cup, that was Megan's idea.  That's genius!  This is perfect for parties or bringing to school for a birthday treat.  You just crush up some chocolate sandwich cookies, put them on top of chocolate pudding, and add some gummy worms.  This is perfect for people who don't like cake!  I usually make pudding and put them into ramekins BUT I don't have enough ramekins for a bunch of people and this is just the perfect size for kids to hold in their hands.  Hopefully, Megan is ok with me sharing her idea here.  I just thought it was perfect!

Have a great day, everyone!  

New Swagbucks Group

Hi friends!  Oh my gosh, it's almost midnight and I haven't blogged!  I almost messed up NaBloPoMo!  BUT I didn't!  Good thing I'm still awake, I guess.

I'm doing a really quick post today to let you know that I've started a Facebook group for my Swagbucks referees where I will help people earn Swagbucks and get free gift cards.  I have been doing Swagbucks daily for YEARS.  You can read THIS POST on why I think everyone should do Swagbucks from 2011!  I go to Starbucks daily and rarely pay for it out of pocket.  I use my Swagbucks to cash in for Starbucks gift cards.  I honestly feel like it's easier to earn Swagbucks now than ever before.  If you'd like to join Swagbucks and be in my group, sign up using my referral link: www.swagbucks.com/refer/HeartHugs then email me or message me on Facebook letting me know you want to join.  This would also be a great way to earn a little bit extra for Christmas.

Hope you are all doing well!  

That One Time I Watercolored

Hi friends!  I hope that you are well!  We are ok.  It was rough today.  I think the rain just put my kids in a weird mood.  Hopefully, their moods will improve but this week is odd with a holiday on a Wednesday.  We'll see!  Keep your fingers crossed for us.  

Today, I'm blogging a card I made at my friend Rachel's crop a couple months ago.  Rachel let us try out her Close to My Heart watercolor paints to make the base of our card.  It was pretty simple but it looks so pretty!  I went out and bought some watercolor paper and some brushes so I could make more cards like this.  We also got to try out this really cool Gold Foil Tape.  It reminds me of the tape they used to package up these dried salted plums I used to have all the time as a kid from the Asian grocery store.  We also go to use a really pretty Coral Shimmer Trim that is STUNNING and matches so well with the watercoloring!  The best thing about using a company like Close to My Heart is that their colors match.  You can get cardstock, ink, embelishments, etc... in the exact same color and that appeals to someone like me (aka horrible at matching.)  

Have a great day, friends!  Hopefully, I'll be back with more watercolored goodness this month!  

Sunday Bests: Nov 8, 2015

Hi friends!  I hope that you are doing well!  We are good.  We enjoyed our laid back weekend of no plans.  I didn't get much done at my crop but I'm hoping to get more done this week because I'm really inspired right now.

I'm bringing back the Sunday Best series at least for November, mostly because I don't know what else to blog about.  How's that for honesty?  These are just a few things that I'm liking this week and maybe you'll like them too.

1.  The Voice.  I'm loving this season of The Voice!  I haven't watched a season with Gwen yet and I just adore her!  I think she's a great coach and I love her spunky personality!  I think the talent on this season is crazy amazing!  I'm not sure I've ever seen a better season.  

2. Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Cranberries.  I pick these up at Target and they are so yummy!  There are actual cranberries inside unlike some other candies that have a kind of jelly candy inside (I like those too) and they are covered in really yummy chocolate.  Ghirardelli is made in San Fransisco too and it's pretty much local to me.  

3. THIS amazing chicken and rice soup made in the Instant Pot.  I make this with brown rice and the pressure cooker does a great job making the rice more tender.  It is so comforting and yummy.  I also like that it's pretty healthy.  

***Affiliate links have been used for this post.  If you decide to purchase using my link, I get a very small commission.  Thank you!  

You Make Me Smile

Hi friends!  I hope you are having a great weekend!  We are doing pretty good.  This is the first weekend in a while that we haven't really had any plans and let me tell you, it's kind of nice!  It's the only one in a while so I'll enjoy it!

Today, I'm sharing a card I made a long time ago at my friend Rachel's crop.  She has pieces out for a make and take and I always try to put my spin on the card so I can blog my original work.  I believe all the elements on the card is from Close to My Heart.  

Have a great day, friends!  And I'll see you tomorrow for more NaBloPoMo!

Share Handmade Kindess Week 1

Hi friends!  I hope that you are well!  We are ok.  We had a busy day of errands.  I had to go to two different grocery stores and I'm off to a crop in a little bit.  I'm hoping to get some projects done that I can post here.

Today, I wanted to share a card I made for a challenge.  Ohhhhh, a challenge!  Remember when I used to do those all the time??  Yeah, me either.  My sweet friend Jennifer McGuire started a month long challenge called Share Handmade Kindness.  I love this premise!  And I love that since Jennifer has such a big reach so many people are getting involved!  It really only take a tiny ripple to start change.

I made this card for Share Handmade Kindness Week 1 and the challenge was to make something for a friend or family member.  Obviously, this is the easiest way to go since you can just hand a card or project or baked item or ANYTHING handmade to a friend and family member and show them how much you care.  I made this card for a friend of mine who is also my son's teacher.  I'm so glad that I've gotten to know her!  Beyond being my son's teacher, she has other children who are friends with my kids.  She invites my kids to their birthday parties.  She encouraged her son to play with my son when we first started at this school and didn't know anyone.  Most recently, she gave my son a ride home after music lessons when Dustin had to go to the doctor.  Obviously, she's a great candidate to receive a little handmade item.

I used some My Mind's Eye Jubilee papers and a Lawn Fawn stamp set for this card.  This paper has a lovely watercolor effect on it.  I stamped the butterflies 3 times on the same paper and cut them out and got this beautiful gradient effect.  I added some purple Stickles to the butterflies for my sparkle.  Purple and butterflies are a couple of my friend's favorite things.  I am also entering this card in the current Lawnscaping Challenge which is Thinking of You.  

Have a great day, friends!  Go Share Handmade Kindness and enter to WIN a prize on Jennifer's blog!

*Affiliate links used in this post.

Currently - Nov 5, 2015

Hi friends!  I hope that you are doing well.  We are ok.  It is finally cold here!  Woohoo!  I'm looking forward to having some cool weather type experiences.  I'm sure other people are sick of fall by now but it just stopped being hot here so I'm excited!  Bring on the sweaters, apple cider, and crunchy leaves!  

I didn't really know what I blog about today and then I remembered I had these cards from urkristin.  I got the opportunity to meet Kristin at CHA a couple years ago.  She is a lovely person with some AMAZING ideas!  She came up with these Currently cards and challenges people to fill them out to journal about themselves.  I don't usually journal about myself.  My Pocket Scrapbooking album is mostly about my kids.  I keep meaning to put in more of what I'm doing, what I'm thinking, what I'm watching, what I'm reading, etc...  I've had several friends say that they wish they knew what their mom was thinking and doing in their baby books.  I think as the memory keepers, we need to learn to inject ourselves more into our albums.  

Have a great day, friends!

Eat Cake!

Hi friends!  I hope that you are doing well!  We are ok.  Just going about life.  I cannot believe it's November!  Can you?  

Today, I wanted to share this fun filler card I made with you!  I bought a Pebbles paper pack from Michael's, it feels thinner than a regular collection pack but whatever.  It's the Birthday Wishes collection.  I really like the colors in this one!  I always appreciate when people use black on their cards and layouts because I don't really do it a lot so here's my attempt.  This is a 3x4 pocket filler card.  I cut all of the elements out of the patterned papers then I added some sequins and a glittery enamel heart to the cherry on the cupcake for some added pizazz.  

Another thing I wanted to blog about today is a link that my husband shared with me.  It's an article about this little girl who got diagnosed with cancer just after turning 3.  She used her Make a Wish to have a cartoon made to help other kids with pediatric cancer when they were scared.  Part of her wish is for the video to spread to raise awareness about pediatric cancer.  You can find the article and the ADORABLE video HERE.  Please share it!  It is so important!

Have a wonderful day, friends!  

Our Halloween Table

Hi friends!  I hope you are well!  We are ok.  It's been a stressful few weeks but we will make it through.  I almost forgot to blog today for NaBloPoMo!  I was about to go get into bed and watch last night's episode of The Voice but I gotta blog!

Today, I'm sharing the Halloween table we set up at church for the Harvest Festival.  Instead of opening up our trunks for Trunk or Treat, we each decorate a table and have the event indoors.  We started this last year because it rained and I guess the church thought that it was a good idea.  I saw the jack-o-lantern totem pole thing on Pinterest and I just loved it!  You already saw the ribbon banner.  The rest of the stuff was things I already had at home.  Maybe next year I will try to win the best table prize but this wasn't the year people.  I went to Target the Wednesday before Halloween to look for some decorations and an employee said "Ma'am, you do realize Halloween is THIS Saturday, right?"  Yes, I procrastinate.  GEEZ Target, help a lady out!

Have a great day, friends!  And don't forget to shop of your holiday items more than 4 days prior to any events!  ;)  

It's Monday, Where's the Coffee?

Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well!  Happy Monday!  (Is that an oxymoron?)  We have RAIN today!  California is in a horrible drought if you didn't know.  Most of us have let our lawns die and have given up washing cars and other things to help conserve water.  I'm so freaking excited about this rain and I hope it keeps up.

I'm blogging again today.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  We'll see how far I make it into NaBloPoMo.  Today, I have a card I made at the same time as the pocket card I made yesterday.  I used the Pebbles Happy Day collection which is still one of my very favorites.  It just has tons of awesome stuff that I love like coffee, cameras, Instagram, takeout, and more.  I added some alpha stickers from the Target Dollar Spot to spell out my sentiment.  

I hope you all have a GREAT Monday!  And thank you to those who are leaving comments!  It's very encouraging as a blogger.

NaBloPoMo and Another Pocket Card

Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well!  We are ok.  Guess what??  Something super exciting is happening here in Northern California.  Can you guess what it is?  FALL!  I joke every year that summer lasts until after Halloween and sure enough, it is HOT up until Halloween each year.  I'm excited to feel a little bit of chill in the air!

I was talking to my friend Carole today and we were talking about how I've been told A LOT recently that I need to get back into crafting.  Carole suggested I try NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) and I was really really reluctant.  But Carole mentioned that I don't have to blog something crafty everyday, I could really blog ANYTHING.  So, what the heck?  Let's give it a shot.  Did you know that I used to actually blog every single day?  That seems like a lifetime ago.  I think I've actually done NaBloPoMo once before and I'm not sure I completed it.  Who knows what will happen?

A weird thing happened to me when I stopped religiously creating and blogging.  I would make things and forget all about them.  Sometimes, I would even take a picture of them, mean to blog them, and forget.  Three years ago Ashley would be SO appalled!  Today, I'm sharing a card I made back in August.  I was having a hard time when I attempted the 100 Days Project (which I failed at) and I decided the best thing to do was to take out something I just LOVED and try to make something using those materials.  I used the Pebbles Happy Day collection which I just LOVE and I added a few enamel dots.  This is a 3x4 card and it is completely my style.  I feel like I'm a scrappy style card maker and I've tried to resist it but no longer.  ;)  

Have a great day, friends!  And wish me luck with this whole blogging thing.  Maybe I can get back into it?  What do you think?