You're So Sweet

Happy Thursday . . . we've almost made it to another weekend. Today is also the last day of swimming lessons for my kids this summer -- SWEET! I am not entirely sure that either of them will pass this level, but I know they have learned and are getting better.

Okay, on to my card of the day. Today I have another Magnolia image for you . . . I colored this one awhile back too, and just now finally got time to make her into a card.

I totally choked on the layout of this one. (aka, pretty boring) I was tired! I loved the colors together though, so fresh and happy. As usual I got carried away with the sewing. I briefly considered sewing quilt style across the pale dotted lines in the background paper, but I decided better of that. Thank goodness.

Stamps: Tilda with Cupcake (Magnolia), Everyday Button Bits (Papertrey Ink) - for the sentiment Paper: Creamy Caramel (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Sweet Matstack (Die Cuts With a View) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Creamy Caramel Classic Ink (SU!) Accessories: tan grosgrain ribbon (Jody's Shares), oval punch (SU!), white crochet thread (unknown), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), sponge (SU!), copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), tan buttons (my stash), paper piercing tool

Speaking of being sweet, I also wanted to mention that Scrappin Lil gave me a blog award -- how adorable is that??? I am flattered! Thank you!!! Be sure to go check out her blog and give her some bloggy love!

Here are the rules for this award: To pick up the Circle of Friends Blog Award cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog. Nominate 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends. Link to your nominees within your blog post. Include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post. Link back to the person who gave you the award in your blog post, to show your appreciation. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award.

#1 Jody (http://confessionsofaribbonaddict.blogspot.com/)-- Jody and I chatted together for a long time online and have met in person a couple times and she is just SO much fun and such a good blogging friend!

#2 Karen (http://gamblemom.blogspot.com/) -- Karen and I also met on the chatter thread and she is hilarious! We all went through her bunny drama and I think she is a super talented stamper and awesome friend!

#3 Tami (http://tamimayberry.blogspot.com/) -- We became friends when we were on the Hanna Stamps team together and she had a baby around the same time I did. She is also the one responsible for the cool sketches on the CPS (http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/) blog and such a talented stamper!

#4 Emily (http://waterpixie.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/) -- We met at SoCal Stamp Mania and Emily has been so sweet to me since then, sending me email about upcoming Disney stuff (she knows how addicted I am) and just basically being cool! She rocks in the stamping dept. and does some sewing too (when she can pull herself off facebook *wink*)

#5 Sara (http://saracreativemind.blogspot.com/) -- We met on the chatter thread too and she is just a fun girlie. She and I both like to read and we exchanged some books and she also likes to make jewelry and stamps too (hello, super talented). I just know you will L-O-V-E her blog!

Stop & Smell the flowers . . .

I have had this image around colored and ready for a long time, just needed to turn him into a card -- well yesterday was the day and this happy little card came out of it. I thought the sentiment fit perfectly for the little doggy with a basket of flowers. The plastic flowers that are overlayed were SO old and in my stash from a couple years ago (Heidi Grace Designs), but they were the perfect color so I just had to use them.

Stamps: Doggy with Flowers (Spiral Whisper), Vintage Picnic Sentiments (Papertrey Ink) Paper: Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Pink Textured Retro Mod Squad (Core'dinations), Amy Butler Designer Mat Pad (K & Company), Belleville Cross Wind (Scenic Route Paper Co.), White Prismatic (Prism) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (SU!), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), Plastic flowers (Heidi Grace Designs), yellow glitter brads (The Paper Studio - Hobby Lobby), Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.)

Mojo Monday - Week 97 "For My Teacher"

Okay, so my real excuse for making this card was because I saw this most adorable apple paper by Carolee's Creations (Adornit) at the "Paper Vineyard" (which I just found the location of and plan to shop at more often). I could not resist, even though I had NO idea what I would use it for.

Anyway, I bought it, and then I was coloring in my apples in a basket (part of a new Papertrey Ink set I bought called "Vintage Picnic") and noticed how well they would go together. So really, this card was a no brainer, throw together card!

I can't believe the summer is almost over. My kids head back to school August 10th. That seems SO early to me. I remember being free on summer vacation till the first week of September. Oh well, I am sure I will use this at some point this fall. This was such an easy sketch to work with, so if you haven't played with it yet, head on over to Julie's MOJO MONDAY blog and play. Happy Stamping!

Stamps: Vintage Picnic (Papertrey Ink) Paper: Basic Black (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Apples Scattered - Aunt Mame Collection (Adornit - Carolees Creations), Playful Blue Collection (Martha Stewart Create) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Certainly Celery Classic Ink (SU!) Accessories: Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), Scalloped and plain circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), black gingham ribbon (SU!), Black Vintage Button collection (Papertrey Ink), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), white crochet thread (unknown), sponge

Strawberries Notecard

I was just playing around with this stamp I have from Lockhart Stamps. I had not used it in awhile. I think it turned out pretty cute. I seriously struggled with the layout for awhile, it was not working for me, but in the end, I think I won. The white prima flowers are supposed to look like strawberry blossoms. Hope you like it!

Stamps: Strawberries (2067 - Lockhart Stamp Co. 2007) Paper: Glorious Green (SU!), Real Red (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Iced Azalea (Prism) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Pixie Pink Classic (SU!) Accessories: white paper flowers (Prima), yellow brads (Doodlebug Designs Inc), red gingham (SU!), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), nestabilities ovals (Spellbinders), scalloped edges scissors (Provocraft), white gelly roll pen (Sakura)

SC327 - Just Because

I spent all morning at home in my PJ's waiting for the electrician to show up and he doesn't come. Um, hello - can we say ANNOYING?

Oh well, I did manage to have some time to stamp. I worked on the sketch challenge on Splitcoaststampers today and this is what I came up with. I am having fun rediscovering how relaxing coloring is and learning more about my copic markers. Oooh, and some of these Magnolia images I had not even played with yet. I even made some sponge painted clouds. Hope you like!

Stamps: Cupcake Tilda (Magnolia), Just Because - Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink) Paper: Playful Blue Collection (Martha Stewart Create), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Soft Sky (SU-Retired) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko) Accessories: Wicker White Acrylic Paint (Plaid), Copic ciao markers (Imagination International Inc.), paper flowers (Prima), yellow ribbon (Walmart), green button brads (Making Memories), sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), sponge

Crafting with the Kiddies . . .

Busy day here today. First we went and saw "The Tale of Desperaux" - well, all except for the last 5 minutes because E had to go potty and could not hold it, so we missed the end. Feel free to message me how it ended. lol!

Then we went to JoAnn's, where I discovered that they are selling Core'dinations card stock (which I LOVE) and right now the paper is 6/96 cents - DEALS! Anyway, I have lots of this paper, but I bought some of the Gemstone collection (sparkly and textured -- woohoo).

When we got home, my kids were in a crafty mood (darn craft stores). They have this Disney book, that has all sorts of fun stuff in it. One of the things was how to make Celia and Mike and some other monsters from Monsters Inc. We got all the stuff the other night. We found some time to make the characters this afternoon. I think they turned out cute, and most importantly, the kids are SUPER excited and haven't put them down.

WSC88 -- Thinking of You

If you are following me on facebook, you will know that last night I was coloring this Tilda to use today. Well, this morning I got some time to stamp (M had to go to a Precinct Committee Training Meeting and then a baptism after mowing the lawn so he was clearly too busy to care what I was up to).

I created this card in a square format like the sketch, which was weird for me because I usually don't really like squares. It measures 5 1/2 x 5 1/2, which is the size that I happened to have envelopes to fit. I have really missed stamping and I am having a lot of time rediscovering my hobby. Hope you like what I came up with!

Stamps: Tilda with Basket (Magnolia), Thinking of You (Hero Arts) Paper: Summer Sun (SU!), Wild Wasabi (Retired SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Sunflowers (Pinecone Press Papers) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Paper Flowers (Prima Marketing), Copic Ciao Markers (Imagination International Inc.), Clear embossing powder (SU!), white button brads (Making Memories), black gingham ribbon (SU!), assorted colored brads from my stash (Unknown Makers), Sewing Machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), scalloped scissors (Provocraft)

SC236 - Using Up My Old SU "In Color" Paper

Sorry I have been MIA lately, but as you may or may not have heard, I am pregnant again. Yep, #4 is on his/her way. I am about 8 weeks along, and have been experiencing lots and lots of nausea. We are expecting the new one to arrive around Feb 18th or so . . . crossing my fingers he/she does not come early because I SO don't want to send my birthday anywhere near a hospital. I know what you are thinking -- "But, you just had a baby" and "Don't you know you can prevent those?" and "You must be out of your mind!" Al of those are true, but M and I had a hard time getting pregnant with #3 and we did not want a huge gap in between because we were not able to get pregnant again, or worse, not have another baby, so we decided to just go for it, and SURPRISE, we managed to get pregnant on the first possible month. Figures eh? Anyway, we are really excited about it. We always wanted 4 kids and this will be our last one.

That said, in my spare moments lately, I have been catching some extra Zzzz's because I have been SO TIRED! But today, I did it! I managed to make it into my studio to make a card. The baby co-operated by napping and the kids were playing happily, so I took some much needed mommy time. I might just have to go back and stamp some more this afternoon because I have a fun idea for today's challenge on SCS! We shall see.

Another reason I have lacked motivation is that my Nikon Coolpix is not working, so the only way I have to take pictures is using my blackberry. That is what I took this one with, so I apologize if the quality is less happy than normal.

I colored Riley using my COPIC ciao markers. I did a lot more blending than I usually do and used the blender tip to marker tip technique and I think it made it look cool. I will use that again!

Stamps: Motorcycle Riley (Hanna Stamps), "Hello" (Papertrey Ink) Paper: Waild Wasabi (Retired SU!), River Rock (Retired SU!), True Thyme (Retired SU!), Solar White Classic Crest (Neenah), Going Places - Travel Collection (Cloud 9 Design) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko), Rive Rock Classic Ink (SU!) Accessories: Black Gingham Ribbon (SU!), Oval Punches (SU!), Sewing machine (Singer), white thread (Sulky), black Brads (The Paper Studio), Grass Embossing Template (Fiskars Texture Templates)