Updated - Now it's DAY 3 on the New Year's THANK YOU CARD Blog Hop!

Good evening, Blog Hoppers! Well, 1/1/11 is done, and so am I. I've been up all day ... went to bed at 3 a.m. after the New Year's Eve celebration with hubby, up at 6:30 a.m. with the dogs. Egads. I want to say that I did succeed in keeping my first New Year's Resolution -- and that is to spend the entire day in my pajamas, something I haven't done (when healthy!) in probably 25 years!

That doesn't mean I was unproductive, oh no (I wish!). In addition to hopping and making cards to share with you, I'm working on cleaning the Craft Loft, shampooed the bedroom rug, cleaned 2 bathrooms and the kitchen top to bottom, did 2 loads of laundry (not that this was going down to the river to beat the clothes on a rock!) ...

So I have just one more card to post for today, and sad to say, it may be my last of this hop, we'll see. But I do have more Blog Candy too, so let's get right to it: A not-so-simple card...

Card #6: Thanks a Bunch

This is a card cut with Cricut's "Walk in My Garden" cartridge. This is a relatively large card -- 6" wide by 5" high, folded. The outside was cut with the sentiment reversed out of the violet background. The inside pops up. The way I made this was to do an "M fold" in the middle of the card, so it forms a gutter where you can stand your flowers or whatever (birthday cake, Christmas tree?).

In this case, I put a row of hyacinth, accented with Martha Stewart glitter inside. The inside sentiment (...a bunch) was set off by a row of glitter at the bottom. (Sometimes, I am just in a glitter mood!) To make this row of glitter nice and straight, I simply put a line of thin double-stick adhesive and pressed fine glitter onto the one side. I learned that if you really want the glitter to stick firmly, put a piece of waxed paper over the glittered tape and run it through your Cuttlebug or other embossing machine.

Now for the Card #6 Blog Candy! To qualify, add a comment (even if you've already posted during the hop before) to say what you like about Card #6 and that you're interested in winning the accompanying Candy. Become a new follower or tell me you're already a follower and you'll get an extra chance at the Grand Prize, the grand poobah of hop-a-paloozah prizes, a custom made Cricut Cozy Cover in your choice of colors and embroidered message.

The Blog Candy for Card #6 is a full set of 36 permanent fine-line markers by Bic, in all the colors of the rainbow and more! Ooooh-ahhhhh! Brand new, never used, in package as shown here.

I hope you all have had fun hopping this weekend, and that you'll stop by from time to time again to see what new stuff I'm cooking up in the Craft Loft. Today, I filmed a Tutorial on making brads with the I-Top that I may be posting soon, and maybe, just maybe I'll break out the Cricut Cake some day in January! oooooh, ahhhh! Do you know you can cut more than fondant with it? You can cut cheese and ham in designs for crudites; pasta or burritos for other nifty munchies; even ceramic slip for tiles or to accent pottery!

ALSO, please note: Blog winners will be picked on Monday, January 3 in the evening. Please comment by 6 p.m. 1/3/11 to be eligible for prizes. Winners will be notified here, and if you've left a method for me to e-mail you, I'll send an e-mail too. Winners have 10 days to send their "snail mail address" or I'll have to pick a new winner. Remember, now 6 different blog candies will be awarded plus one Grand Prize winner will be randomly selected for the Cricut Cozy. Good luck!

Here's the post from earlier today (below) with updates:

Click on any of these pictures to enlarge the image.

Card 1: You Made My Day; Blog Candy: A dozen handmade brads
Card 2: Sweet and Simple; Blog Candy: An embellishment grab-bag
Card 3: With Gratitude Floral; Blog Candy: A dozen handmade flowers
Card 4: Masculine thanks; Blog Candy: Cricut ZOOBALLOO cartridge

Card 5: Simple Swiss Dot; Blog Candy: Cuttlebug embossing folders

Card 6: Thanks a Bunch; Blog Candy: Bic Marker Set of 36 colors

1. You may comment on each card, to get a chance to win that card's candy.

2. With each comment (up to 6 allowed so far), you get one entry into the Grand Prize.

3. You get an extra chance to win the Grand Prize (Custom Made Cricut Cozy ... see my post at the beginning of the hop, "older posts", for a picture of a Cozy I made this weekend) by either becoming a new follower, or stating that you are already a follower.

Day 2, Card #5:

Again, a sweet and simple card ... one my husband may like because it's not too frilly!

To make this card, I stamped the sentiment on a pre-made white A2 card. I punched a hole in a royal blue piece of cardstock to layer over the sentiment. It still looked a little plain to me, so I cut a slightly larger hole in a medium blue cardstock; I ran the medium blue cardstock through my Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder. A few small rhinestones to underline the sentiment finished it off.

Time for BLOG CANDY! In exchange for your comment on Card #5, you'll receive one entry eligible for the accompanying Blog Candy which is (drumroll, please)

Cuttlebug Folders! I have a darling set of four (2x2") folders in a box, and I'll throw in one standard A2 folder as well. Remember to read the instructions to get additional chances to win the other candy posted for this weekend hop-a-palooza!

Pop the champagne corks, 2011 is going to be a great year!

Don't forget to continue on the weekend's BLOG HOP! Your next stop is at Miss Adri's blog. Click this LINK to be taken there ... and be sure to check back at CardMonkey's site for more thank you cards and an amazing amount of candy!! Pow-Pow-Pow!! {{fireworks}}