Saturday, January 21, 2012

Chinese New Year Hop - January 22-23

There is a tremendous amount of excitement in the home of our Chinese New Year Blog Hop hostess, April Nourse. Her family has expanded by one -- a son -- who came to California just two weeks ago from Taiwan.  Alex, the very handsome young guy, is six years old!  

To welcome Alex and to share her happiness with us all, April invited her bloggy friends to celebrate The Year of the Dragon, Chinese New Year.  
You should have arrived here from the Queen T's blog spot; if not, or if you're one of my followers who'd like to start at the beginning, please go to April's site and wish her well on her journey (and learning Chinese!) with her wonderful gift from Taiwan.

Be sure to visit April's blog to learn about the GRAND PRIZE Blog Candy for those who comment on each of the blog's stops. I'll have some of my own blog candy to encourage your comment here (read more later!)

So here's my project:

I decided to actually host a dinner party for my neighbors tonight. It's going to be catered by my local favorite Chinese restaurant with take-out specialties that we love. The restaurant's co-owners, husband and wife, Alvin and Shema, came to the U.S. via Chinese adoptions as well!  Here is my invitation that I made for the event:


 

Isn't that just the perfect die to use for this occasion? It's by Cheery Lynn, and I bought it from my favorite vendor -- Happy Scrappy LLC -- who sells these dies at a deep discount. Alex, the owner, is a generous sponsor of many of the hops I am in, and I hope you will patronize him when you're shopping for dies. Please tell him I sent you!

SPECIAL BLOG CANDY alert!!  For my SUPER blog candy for this Hop, I am giving away the die I used to make this invitation!  It is beautiful ... and in addition to the dragon (shown above), there is an oval lattice frame that circles it that can be used on many other projects.  

I will tell you that I had difficulty using this die at first. Then I contacted Alex at Happy Scrappy who was the best in terms of walking me through the use, leading me to some excellent videos -- and urging me to buy a "Cuttlehug" metal plate adapter to use with these very thin, intricate designs.  

Alex sells these adapter plates in two sizes, and also sells other supplies (like B and C plates for Sizzix and Cuttlebug, embossing pads, and crafting picks) -- no craft room should be without them as mine was!!

ANYWHOOOO... if you'd like to win the Cheery Lynn Lace Dragon Frame I used above, please:

a) Be or become a follower of mine,
b) Leave a comment on this post telling me:
c) "My favorite Chinese food dish is ...."  

Winner will be picked at random using Random.org, and announced on this blog on Tuesday, January 24 (since this is a 2-day hop).  I hope to have another project for you tomorrow (January 23), so you can leave another comment then for 2 chances to win. Post about this hop on your blog or on Facebook, and get another chance to win!!

So now head on over to the next stop on the Chinese New Year Hop:  PSA Essentials! 

Here is the complete line-up, in case you get lost along the way:

  • April - http://curlsandgrins.blogspot.com

  • Lynne K. - http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/

  • Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

  • Amy - http://www.lovetocrop.com/

  • Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/

  • Shannon - http://www.purplelionpaper.com/blog

  • Inga - http://mommahobbit.blogspot.com/

  • Maria - http://www.mdcraftcorner.blogspot.com/

  • Janet- http://www.createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

  • Dena - http://missdjones.blogspot.com/

  • Jennifer - http://jenrubio.blogspot.com/

  • Theresa- http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/

  • Ellen - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/  <--- YOU ARE HERE!

  • PSA Essentials - www.psastampcamp.blogspot.com/


  •  (Thank you!)
     

    18 comments:

    jengd said...

    Wonderful card Ellen and what a great hop for a great reason! It's funny- I just used my first Cheery Lynn die today at an LSS class and actually bought a metal plate just so my dies cut better. Some Cheery Lynn's are in my future I believe. :) Thanks for the chance at this one! Oh! Mu Shu Pork used to be my fav until I met Singapore Cho Mei Fun! (minus onions, thank you very much!)

    JaniceA said...

    Beautiful invite and hope your dinner is fantastic!
    janiceaeschliman.blogspot.com

    Edwina said...

    Ellen, Your invitation is wonderful!!! It looks just like a real Chinese invitation.You did a wonderful job on it. Yum Chinese! I love it but we don't have it anymore as My Mom can't eat it any more. I love Sweet and Sour Chicken and Egg Rolls. My favorite soup is Wonton soup. Now I want some so much! Oh well, my Mom's health is more important. Thanks for sharing. Edwina Brown edwinabrown@comcast.net

    Beckie said...

    Wow...love that invitation. Mine must've gotten list in the mail...lol. hope you party is awesome. My favorite Chinese food is chicken lo mein. Hugs!

    Be blessed, Beckie

    Ashley Nicole said...

    This is a great invitation. Clean and simple and perfect. My favorite dish is Lo Mein. Love being in blog hops with you.
    Ashley
    http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com

    Stacey Brucale said...

    This is so pretty! I love how intricate the design is. My favorite Chinese dish is Sesame Chicken!

    Unknown said...

    What a great invitation. Love the red and whit color scheme. The dragon is marvelous. Already a follower of yours and I love Shrimp Mai Fun.
    Debbie
    http://craftywizard.blogpsot.com

    Sally said...

    So glad that I found your blog! We celebrate Chinese New Year with our students! Love the invite and can't wait to check out Cheery Lane. Oh, make my order for Sesame Chicken.....

    Unknown said...

    Hi Ellen... I feel like I know you already for I see you in the comment section of soooo many blog hops!! I copied and pasted your URL to come and check you out, lol... then I realized you are part of the hop I am in right now!!! You are everywhere, lol
    First I love the name of your blog...second yes I will patronize Alex and finally I love the C plate which is Chicken Fried Rice , S&S balls, Garlic Spare Ribs and an egg roll...
    Your invitations really suits the celebration!!! Love the dragon!!!

    Unknown said...

    Oh I forgot , I am a new follower!

    sunflower sue said...

    Kung Hee Fat Choy! Hope you have fun at your dinner. My favorite Chinese food is Jai. I also like a lot of the "Americanized Chinese" food like General Tso's Chicken, Sweet Sour Spare Ribs, and Black Bean Crab. Nom nom!

    Unknown said...

    You did a wonderful job on the invitation, love the die!! My favorite Chinese food dish is beef with broccoli and sweet and sour pork, yummy!! Thanks
    Cindy
    cindilu2u at gmail dot com

    Krista's Paper Cafe said...

    Ellen, your dinner invite is beautiful. That is an amazing die!
    Have fun celebrating the Chinese New Year at your dinner.
    Gung hay fat choy!
    KristaInMN at gmail dot com

    Aim said...

    What an AWESOME invite AND and awesome die!! WOW... It's so intricate and wonderful!! :)

    We just love the family that runs our local Chinese restaurant... They put such pride into the food they serve -- And if someone says "party" we're sure to order up a party size tray of the very best Crab Rangoon in the country!! :) Yum, yum, yum (so that would be my favorite Chinese food!!)...

    I'm a longtime follower of you and your monkey business!! :)

    Thanks for being a part of the hop...

    Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com

    ibecircled.blogspot.com said...

    your invitation is very nice and my favorite Chinese food dish is Barbecue pork and sweet and sour chicken. I am already a follower.

    http://ibecircled.blogspot.com
    ilovetonkinese2 at hotmail dot com
    Rexann♥

    Anita Braddock said...

    Beautiful Invit. love love the Dragon its the Best love Dragons. great colors and papers. thanks for sharing.
    www.anita-craft-corner.blogspot.com
    new follower

    Karenladd said...

    I can't believe all the amazing projects on this hop and your card is just spectacular! That die is gorgeous and I would love to have a chance to win it! My favorite chinese food dish is asparagus beef.
    I am a follower!

    mommahobbit said...

    Great card! And yp I love BBQ pork buns!