LOTV-Hopping into 2014...

Happy 2014, everyone, and thanks for stopping by! There's a whole new set of 10 adorable Lili of the Valley stamps in the first launch of 2014, so we're celebrating with another blog hop and a chance for two lucky people to win the new sets. The newest sets feature the very popular James the Bear, and some more of the newest characters, Jack, Patch, and Puss.

Again, there are 2 full sets of the new stamps to give away...2 lucky winners will each receive all 10 new designs!

The new stamps will be available for purchase from the website starting midday (UK time) on Monday, January 13. (If you're near the Leeds shop, it will be open this Saturday, January 11, from 10-4, and you'll be able to purchase the newest sets at the shop.)

If you've hopped with us before, you know how this goes. Just "hop" from one blog to the next, following the list below. Be sure to leave a comment on each card for the best chance to win the new stamp sets. The prizes are "hidden"...the winners will be drawn at random from the comments left on the participating blogs, and even we don't know whose lucky blog commenters will be chosen for the drawing.

Be sure to stop by the Ideas to Inspire blog on Monday morning to see which were the "lucky" blogs and to see if you're one of the winners!

Here's a full list of the blogs taking part in the hop. Remember, to have the best chance at winning a complete new set of the newest release, leave a comment on each blog:

Ideas to Inspire

Anne

Becky

Dawny

Debbie

Dena

Elise

Fleur

Gretha

Jen

Kathy (you're here!)

Kim

Lou

Mary J

Mindy

And now you're ready for me to move on to the pictures, hmmm? :)  I focus mainly on using the LOTV papers and sentiments stamps, so this time, I chose some of the green papers from LOTV's Beach Bliss paper pad, and a couple different sentiment stamp sets. On the diecut tag is a sentiment from Set 10, A5 Verses, and across the bottom, a sentiment from Set 25, Handwritten Phrases...

The paper doily was white to start...I shaded it down using Pumice Stone Distress Ink, and used the same color around the edges of the die cut tag. I wanted this card to have a neutral background so the coral-pink flowers would serve as the contrasting interest. 

There's lots of layering and foam tape on this card...you know how I love my foam tape...heehee. It's such a simple way to add dimension, and with all the embellishments I like to use, it often makes little "wells" that I can nestle things down inside to keep the cards from becoming so thick they're unmailable...

The lace was white at the start, too. A little bit of Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet Distress Inks applied with a water brush, along with some random dabs of a paper towel, made it easy to make a "dyed-to-match" lace trim.

The largest of the roses was made with Spellbinders' Rose Creations dies...it's surrounded with smaller ready-made flowers...

Supplies:

Patterned papers:    Lili of the Valley Beach Bliss paper pad

Sentiment Stamps:   LOTV Set 10, A5 Verses;   Set 25, Handwritten Phrases

Dies:   Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags Two, and Rose Creations;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves

Lace:   TheFunkieJunkie.com          Pearls:   Recollections

Flowers:   LayoutsFromTheHeart on Etsy (taupe roses);   Wild Orchid Crafts (pink roses)

Your next stop on the hop is Kim's blog. But if you get lost, you can always go back to the complete list above, or back to the beginning at the Ideas to Inspire blog...and don't forget to check the I2I blog on Monday to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

Lastly, I'd like to take a moment to remind you of  LOTV's monthly challenge  (there's always a "hot" link to it over on my sidebar to the right, too).  January's challenge is "Anything Goes," so it's a fun one, and there's still plenty of time left to enter for this month.

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit. I'll be back on a regular basis soon...in the meantime, good luck on the hop!!