Now, it absolutely kills me to do this, but I’m going to announce the winners even though I haven’t had time to comment on all of the projects.  You know I will leave no project uncommented on, but it’s going to take me a while, and I know the suspense is killin’ ya!  Don’t worry though, I will be looking at all of the projects this week!  You know I won’t ask you to take the time to make something and not admire it!

So, without further ado, the winners:

Challenge #1 - Who Inspires You?  Brenda 5151

Challenge #2 - Spring-y Home Decor  Gail 6870

Challenge #3 - Proud to be A Fiskateer   Mary 135 and Niki Ray

Challenge #4 - Easter/Spring cards  Debra 352

Challenge #5 - What Would You Like to See More of?  Dot 6703

Challenge #6 - Let’s Make Some Friends!  Jennie 414

Challenge #7 - Recipe Cards  Linda 6644

Challenge #8 - Patterned Paper Sylvia

Challenge #9 - Kickin’ It Old School Tina

Challenge #10 - Something Old, Something New  Tona

Challenge #11 - Oops, Need A Card! Jeannie

PJ’s Challenge  Tracy 4168

Winners, please send me an email with your mailing address, rebecca@fiskateers.com.

Congratulations to everyone, and thanks to ALL of you who participated!  It was an awesome effort!

***FYI, I’ve made a note of all your suggestions for what you’d like more of on the blog, and we’re working on it!  I already had an online class in the works, so I was relieved to see that you all wanted more of those!    ***

To celebrate my first completed page in ages, I have some of these My Mind’s Eye papers to give away, along with some embellishments and alpha stickers.  Just leave a comment here by Thursday, March 4th at 9 pm EST, and I’ll draw a random winner! 

I’ll be finishing up some curtains tonite, then it’s on to my next big sewing project - recovering my living room chair.  Can I get it done before Nat’l Craft Month is over??  I hope so !  Wish me luck!

Challenge #1 - Who Inspires You?   For this challenge, create a one page layout about a person, place or thing that inspires you.  Maybe a relative inspires you to be a better person, maybe a project on the Fiskateer gallery inspired you to get crafty - whatever the type of inspiration it is, create a new one-page layout for the challenge (no digi please), and post it in your gallery.  Then leave a link to your project on this message board thread.  Deadline:  Sunday Feb 28th at 9 pm EST 

Challenge #2 - I am sooo, ready for spring, how about you?  Make a spring-y home decor item just for this challenge, post a pic in your gallery, then leave a link to your project on this message board thread.  Deadline:  Sunday Feb 28th at 11 pm EST

Challenge #3 - On this message board thread.  Easy Peasy!

Challenge #4 - Easter/Spring Cards.  make two new Easter or spring cards for this challenge using your favorite Fiskars tool.  Post a pic in your gallery and leave a link on this message board thread.  Have Fun!  Deadline: Sunday Feb 28th at 9 pm EST

Challenge #5 - Another easy one!  See this message board thread!

Challenge #6 - Let’s make some friends!  See this message board thread!

Challenge #7 - Do you have a certain dish that you make that makes everyone ask for the recipe?  Make up three recipe cards with that yummy recipe so you’ll have them handy the next time someone asks!  Take a pic and post it on this message board thread (if you want, you can share the recipe while you’re at it!)!  Deadline:  Sunday, Feb 28th at 9 pm EST.

Challenge #8 -Patterned Paper?!?  We don’t need no stinkin’ patterned paper!  Use your stamps to create some patterned paper, then use it on a card or layout.  Take a pic and post it on this message board thread!  Let’s get inky everyone!  Deadline: Sunday, Feb 28th at 11 pm EST

Challenge #9 - Kickin’ It Old School! - Drag out an old Fiskars tool that you haven’t used in ages and make a layout!  Challenge yourself to put a twist on an old technique.  Pots a pic in your gallery and leave a link on this message board thread.  Deadline:  Sun. Feb 28th at 11 pm EST

Challenge #10 - Something Old, Something new, Something Borrowed, Something Blue! - No, no, no - this is not a challenge to run to Las Vegas and elope!  For this challenge we are going to make a layout with the following -  1.  use one of the oldest papers you can find in your stash, 2.  use a new paper, embellishment or tool that you got recently, 3.  scraplift a layout from one in the Fiskateer gallery, and 4.  make sure it has something blue on it!  Post a pic in your gallery, and leave a link on this message board thread, and make sure you tell me who you scraplifted!  Deadline:  Sun, Feb 28th at midnite EST!

Challenge #11 - Oops!  Need A Card Quick!! Once again I got caught!  My son had a birthday party to attend today, and I didn’t have a card ready!  Don’t let this happen to you! Check your birthday list, and make a card for the next two people on it!  Post a pic in your gallery and leave a link on this message board thread.  Deadline:  Sun Feb 28th at 11 pm EST!

 Who is this amazing Roni?  I’m glad you asked!

Veronica (Roni) Johnson, a life long artist, is the author of Teach Yourself Visually Collage & Altered Arts,

and her great technique blog, InkStains With Roni.

Teach Yourself Visually Collage & Altered Arts is a technique oriented book that encompasses a wide variety of projects, mediums and artistic genre including: Aging Techniques, Paper & Paint Collage Techniques, Image Transfers, Creating your own Altered Charms and much more. Her art work can also be seeing in two previously published in TYV publications - Teach Yourself Visually - Scrapbooking and Paper Crafts Visually Quick Tips.

In addition to the blog and collage book, Roni also designs for various manufactures and retail companies in the rubber stamping and altered arts fields including Ranger Industries, Streuter Technologies, Queen Kat Designs, and Hannah Grey Curiosities & Drygoods.  Her works have been published in several rubber stamping and altered arts magazines such as Stampers Sampler; SS Take Ten; Paper Crafts; Paper Crafts – Stamp It!; Altered Arts Magazine; Vamp Stamp News and most recently in the Publications International book – Christmas Crafts 2009. Roni’s projects have also been used in product advertisements; as on-line projects and placed on display at national craft and hobby conventions. 

When she isn’t creating Roni enjoys spending time with her family on their small farm in rural Indiana, scouring various flea markets or antique malls for unique vintage finds, reading and pursuing her love of photography.

And guess what?? She’s also a FISKATEER!  Woohoo!  We’re a talented bunch, aren’t we?  So make sure you’ve got plenty of snacks on hand for Thursday night, it’s going to be a good one!  In fact, let’s kick this chat off with a bang - leave a comment here, and I’ll draw a random winner on Thursday to receive a copy of Roni’s book!  There’s only one catch - I’ll be announcing the winner during the chat, and you have to be present to win, hee hee! 

Marcy and Susan were my hostesses for the day, here’s Marcy:

and that is Susan performing a little minor surgery on Renee’s leg, ha ha! 

I also got to hang out with a lovely and talented group of ladies:  Renee, Terry, Mary, Pat, Dottie, Kris, Shannon, and Wendy Jo (no, not that one)! 

They weren’t all Fiskateers when I got there, but they were ALL Fiskateers when I left, woohoo!  Make sure you say hi to them when they pop on the message board or post a pic!

We had some fun with the giant scissors, and we all took turns wearing the beautiful Fisk-a-tiara that Diva Danielle gave to me. 

 I brought along my portable Canon Selphy, and printed out the pics we took for everyone.  Renee was actually scrapping them when I left!  She doesn’t waste any time! 

The food was awesome - homemade corn chowder, delicious meatballs, homemade mac & cheese, and some delicious cookies that Marcy made (and she PROMISED she’d share the recipe).

Now brace yourselves, I have a shocking announcement:  I actually had time to make a scrapbook page!  Double woohoo!  I even had Terry take a pic of me with it so I had evidence. 

The hubster was so excited!  I used the new Quite Contrary - Mary Mary papers from My Mind’s Eye, they are gorgeous!  I have to tell you, I had help from an awesome book,  Allison Davis’s Sketches for Scrapbooks (but I can’t remember which volume it was, lol).  I’ll post a bigger pic when I have all of the journaling and titles finished, and  I’ll even have some great surprises for you!  It was definitely a diva-licious day, and I can’t wait to go back! 

THANKS LADIES!!!

I’ll be at Fancy That from noon until 7 pm on Saturday with lots of goodies and door prizes, and maybe even some candy, LOL!  If you’d like to join me, contact the store at 717-566-2012 to reserve your spot!  I hope to see you there!

Not only is he the best Fed Ex guy EVER, he’s a good sport, too!

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Isn’t the tape dispenser awesome?  No more floral tape unrolling everywhere!  And I’m happy to report that I have tossed out the old pair of hand-me-down pliers that I used to use to cut artificial flower stems because I am now the proud owner of the new stem cutter!  That thing will go thru stems like a hot knife thru butter! 

A few folks have asked where they can get the tools.  Well, I just found out that they are now available at 190 Meijer stores, so you folks out in that area can get your hands on them now!  WAHOO!  Let’s celebrate!  I’ve got a stem cutter and a floral tape dispenser for one lucky Fiskateer!  Just leave a comment here, and I’ll announce the winner tomorrow night when I reveal the winners of the Lonely Fed Ex guy Challenge!  Good Luck everyone!

Challenge #1 - Cards - Make three cards.  They could be Thank You cards, Valentine’s Day cards, whatever!  Just make sure that you use some sort of Fiskars tool on them.  Take a pic, post it in your gallery with the tool name in the description, and leave a link here! 

Challenge #2 - Gifts - Make a gift - big, small, round, square - anything goes!  Again, make sure that you use at least one Fiskars tool.  Take a pic, post it in your gallery with the tool name in the description, and leave a link here!

Challenge #3 - Scrapbook page - Make a scrapbook page!  It can’t be digital, and you must use at least one Fiskars tool!  Take a pic, post it in your gallery with the tool name in the description, and leave a link here!

Deadline:  The deadline for all of the challenges is Sunday at 2 pm EST.  I’ll be picking the winners late Sunday evening.  Good Luck everyone!  Can’t wait to see what you make!