Fabulous Feline Friday

     

I finally found time to stamp today just for fun!  Normally I'm working on cards for my design team or club, so it was a nice break just to do whatever I wanted.  I had two challenges that I wanted to play along with, Fab Friday and Black Tie Friday.  I'm a few days late, but since I watch Laila most of the day Thursday through Saturday, it never works out to stamp very much until Sunday.  

I pulled out lots of circles for this one!   I used a couple of Halloween designer papers, one current and one retired, a circle for my image, and circles for my sentiment.  Lots and lots of circles.  :)   I think it works well with one of my favorites, Frightening Feline.   I have been in a slump where I don't like my cards, but I think this one is actually okay.   Maybe my mojo will return soon!  

Stamps:  Frightening Feline, Wicked Cool

Ink: Staz On black

Paper:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, Wicked Fun DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Circle dies and punches, Color Spritzing tool, retired Black Rhinestone flourish 

Since it's football Sunday, I just had to share my little Packer's fan.  :)   We are Texans fans first, but I just love Aaron Rodgers.

FM78: Gently Falling Leaves

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Fall Leaves" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with "Twine".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Fall Leaves Themed project using Twine". 

Isn't this an awesome challenge?   I LOVE Fall and am so happy that it's here.   Well, not really in Texas but I can pretend, right? :)   Lisa, who likes to tease me about their MUCH cooler weather, has presented this fun fall challenge at The Friday Mashup to use fall leaves and/or twine on our cards.   Awesome, right?!  They are two of my favorite things to use on cards so I just loved this challenge!

What do you think?   I have to say, I sort of love it.   The Natural Composition DSP sponged with Early Espresso is my favorite part of the card for sure.  (and just FYI, if you sponge this particular sheet with Cajun Craze, it looks like bacon.   I'll try to post a picture of that fun mistake for you on a another post)  I love the leaves and the button tied with twine too.  Just a fun card and one I really enjoyed making.  I think Gently Falling is one of the best Stampin' Up! sets ever.   

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Day of Gratitude, French Foliage

Ink: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Natural Composition DSP, Autumn Spice DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Corner Rounder punch, Regals buttons, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, paper snips, sponges

And speaking of Fall, you know what that means...

Halloween costumes!  This was one of Laila's pictures from her 3 month photo shoot.  Can you believe she turned  3 months yesterday???  Time is just flying by....

Razzleberry Fun Flower for FMS

Jen T. (we have a lot of Jen's at FMS) designed this fun sketch for us this week at Freshly Made Sketches.  I was boring and went with a flower for mine, but I did use one of my favorite color combinations!   

Looking back I wish I had thought to use Quint-Essential Flower or maybe my much neglected Raining Flowers.  I was making this while Laila was playing on her little mat in my room, so it was hard to focus on designing it when she was being so cute.   :)   I still think it's cute and I love the layered flower and the colors so much!   It's always fun to make a card with no stamping and NO WHITE!  Ha! 

Stamps:  NONE

Ink:  NONE

Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Brights DSP stack, Perfect Polka Dots DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Finishing Touches edgelits, Boho Blossoms punch, Brights Glimmer brads

LOL  I don't think she knew what was going on here.   I just love that she is wearing "real clothes". :)  

Friday Mashup: Indian Summer

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Indian Summer" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with any three colors from "Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade & Early Espresso".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Indian Summer Themed project with the color combo". 

Now that we are starting to get a hint of fall, Heidi presented this great challenge to see out the summer days.   Be sure to drop by the Friday Mashup and see all the other lovely creations from the team. 

This was actually one of my cards for stamp club this month.  After I made it for the challenge I just knew it would be a fun one to do with my ladies.   I just love the Perfectly Preserved set!  It has so many possibilities and can work for a lot of holidays and occasions.  It's a pretty simple card, but I thought it was cute.  

Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved

Ink:  Cajun Crazy, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade

Paper:  Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Cajun Crazy, Whisper White, Orchard Harvest DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Window Frames and Cannery framelits, Festive Paper Piercing pack, Early Espresso baker's twine, Linen Thread

Last week we got all dressed up to go to Target but after some fussing in the car and the threat of rain, we ended up coming back home.  Good thing as it came a total downpour about 2 minutes after we got back in the house!  

FMS53: Festival of Strips

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch from Freshly Made Sketches!   Tui really challenged us this week with this sketch.  My tired brain struggled a bit, so I hope my card isn't too bad.  I used a pretty liberal interpretation I guess.  :)

The Festival of Prints designer paper stack in the Holiday Catalog is just perfect for this sketch.  I focused on the Cherry Cobbler and Lucky Limeade prints, but there are a few other color combinations in there that you could use as well.   I've been drinking quite a few pumpkin spice lattes since they arrived back at Starbucks, so I just had to pull out the mug from Scentsational Season and use it.  I'm a total coffee addict and I know I'd love to get a card with a steaming mug of joe on it!  

Stamps:  Scentsational Season

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Holiday Collection framelits, 3 inch circle die, Dazzling Details, Basic Rhinestones

Laila is getting so cute, but man is she growing up fast!   She'll be 3 months old next week and that just seems crazy to me.  

Dynamic Halloween

Woo Hoo!  I feel like I never have much time for stamping outside of my design teams and club/class cards, so today I took a bit and made a card that wasn't for either.  I love Dynamic Duos and really wanted to play with the colors this week.  I just love Lucky Limeade.  I was sad when Pear Pizzazz went away, but I'm happy with the two new greens we got as in colors.  

My card is pretty simple but hey, it's a card!  I used an old Mojo Monday sketch and my new Toxic Treats stamp set.  I got it for free this month when one of my friends signed up to be a demonstrator.  I can't wait to get together with her to make the super cool printer's tray that we both received in addition to the stamps.  I did heat emboss the cauldron in black and sponged the edges of the limeade layers just a bit.  It was fun to put together and I like it.  :)

Stamps:  Toxic Treats

Ink:  Versamarker, Lucky Limeade, Basic Gray (sponging)

Paper:  Lucky Limeade, Basic Black, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack, In Colors DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Pennants die, 2 1/2 circle punch, heat tool, black embossing powder, Lucky Limeade baker's twine, sponges

We took Laila to feed/watch the ducks at a local park yesterday.  I think she found them pretty fascinating! 

Happy Birthday, Kathy!

I made this card to celebrate the birthday of my sweet friend Kathy.  She was the first demonstrator I really got to know personally and I absolutely LOVE her.  We haven't let the fact that we are in different countries stop us from becoming close friends.  I think she's amazing and super duper talented!   I hope you have a wonderful day my friend!  I wish I was there to celebrate with you!   (If I didn't time this post correctly, it's Jason's fault since he helped me with the time conversion.)   

I used a few challenges for my card, the sketch at Retro Sketches, the colors from The Paper Players, and the challenge of 3 b's from the brand new Black Tie Friday challenge.   I have been struggling with my creativity lately but I hope Kathy will think it's the thought that counts.  :)   

Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes, Papillon Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Staz On Black, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

Paper:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Basic Black satin ribbon (retired), Basic Pearls

      

FM76: Starburst!

It's my turn to host the Friday Mashup challenge this week and I settled on this fun sketch and the starburst technique.   I used this great tutorial to do my card.  I'm thinking challenged lately, so having that tutorial to help my brain sure paid off.  I think having a baby somehow decreases your number of brain cells or something because I'm sure struggling with anything that requires memory or too much thinking.   It's almost scary!  Anyway, here's the Mashup and my card: 

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the sketch.
2. Or Make a project with "Starburst technique".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project using the "sketch and starburst technique". 

Yeah, it's that darn cat again!  I just LOVE that thing!    I'm going to be sad when Halloween is over and I have to put him away for the year.  I combined him with the fun Halloween DSP from the holiday catalog.  I love that paper too and was gifted some sheets of it by my friend Mindy.   She's spoiled me with stamping stuff lately!  I really like the combination of Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, and Basic Black.   

Stamps Frightening Feline, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray

Paper:  Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, Very Vanilla

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder, circle dies, Jewelry Tag punch, Basic Black 1/4 grosgrain ribbon, Black Rhinestones (retired), sponges

She just looks too cute in yellow!  

FMS: One Year!

Time to celebrate!  Today is challenge #52 from Freshly Made Sketches.  We have officially been going for one year now.  I wish I could say I'd done all 52, but pregnancy and a baby had me taking some time off.   I'm hoping to return with this sketch, but we'll see how things go.  Anyway, for this week we invite you to pick any of our previous sketches and work your magic!

This is one of the sketches that I missed while on my break. I really wanted to play along that week but just couldn't get things together to do it.  I jumped at the chance to do it this week and it was just as much fun as I thought it would be!  If you want to see the original creations from the design team, you can find them here. 

Look at all that Very Vanilla.  You already know that it's stressing me out.  :)   lol  I think it's a fun card though and it used up a few strips of DSP that were in my scrap pile.  I can't ever seem to use up my scraps.  If you see me on a episode of Hoarders, my house will probably be covered in paper scraps from my cardmaking.  

Stamps:  Bright Hopes (retired)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Festival of Prints DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Snowburst, Petals-a-Plenty, and Lacy Brocade embossing folders, Regals buttons, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Basic Pearls

She's found her hands and thinks they are quite tasty!  :)

MDS Contest Entry!

How cool is it that Stampin' Up! is having My Digital Studio contests now?   Have you seen them?  If not, be sure to go over to mydigitalstudio.net to check them out!  I don't stand a chance as I'm pretty new to creating with the program (yeah, we won't discuss how long I've owned it, okay?), but it is fun to play along anyway.    I made this page to show off Laila and her gorgeous quilt.   I LOVE the You Are My Sunshine download.  It matches her nursery colors so perfectly!  

Texas has finally cooled down with the "cold front" that came through, so we are only getting to the high 80s today!   Woo hoo!  What a great way to welcome in the start of football season.   Go Texans!  

FM75: Back to School

I'm attempting to get back in the swing of things with my design teams, so here goes!    Holly has a perfect challenge for this time of year at the Friday Mashup this week.   I think just about everyone is back to school now, so why not make a fun card or project to celebrate?!   

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Back to School" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with "Sewing".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Back to School project with Sewing". 

I didn't mash it up this week as sewing is a bad word in my house.  :)  I wanted to make up some teacher thank yous for the local shop so this challenge was just perfect.  I LOVE the colors so much!   That Color Coach is great at suggesting combinations that rock!   

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids, Perfectly Preserved, A to Z (retired), Thank You Kindly (retired)

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Blush Blossom marker

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Cannery framelits, Window Frame framelits, Festive Paper-Piercing pack, Paper-piercing tool, Stampin' Pierce Mat, blender pen

My girl is learning to hold things! 

Another MDS page!

Yeah, still playing along with digital scrapbooking!  I finished another page and changed up the previous ones a bit too.  I like to go back and add stuff as I learn new things.  :)  First the new page:  

I'm still not sure on the picture alignment of this one but I got tired of messing with them for now.   I need to go back and fuss with those and the layers a bit more but I like where it is going at least.  It was based off a sketch I found on Pinterest.  Gotta love that website! 

I discovered the cool feature that lets you make a mirror copy of your pages so that you can do two page layouts like this.  That was so easy!  Design once and have 2 completed pages!  

Finally, a bit of stitching, an overlay, and a banner/flag added to this page.   

I hope some of you guys will get inspired to try your own digital pages soon!  Remember you can download the free trial and try it out for 30 days!  

Fab Friday Evergreen

Isn't this an awesome sketch?  My friend Mindy just started a stamping challenge blog!  With both her and my buddy Marla on the design team, I just had to go play along!   It was tough to give My Digital Studio the night off, but it was fun to go pull out real paper and stamps too.  :)   

I love non-traditional colors for Christmas and was inspired by the Festival of Prints stack to use Island Indigo and Early Espresso.   There's a hint of Baja Breeze in there too course.   I will admit that the amount of white space stresses me out but I'm leaving it alone.  I'm not sure why it's so hard for me to leave paper unstamped!   I think I'm a bit crazy.  Ha!    I hope you'll find time to go play along in their very first challenge.  The design team is AWESOME and have made a ton of great samples for inspiration!  

Stamps:  Evergreen, Teeny Tiny Wishes, All Holidays (retired)

Ink:  Island Indigo, Early Espresso

Paper:  Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Festival of Prints DSP, Silver Glimmer paper

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Holiday Collection Framelits, 2011-2013 In Color Polka Dot brads, glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds

She just keeps growing!  They need to make a special bouncy set for girls with long legs. :)  

Back to Spool Special

Yay for free ribbon!!!  Or is that just me that likes free stuff?   :)  I'm so excited about this promotion.  I haven't had the budget to get this gorgeous ribbon yet but now I'll be able to play with it for FREE!  How awesome is that?!   I just love Stampin' Up!   They just spoil us so much with these great deals.   Choosing a color(s) is going to be hard, but I'm betting you'll see some Midnight Muse ribbon on my cards soon.   I just adore that color!  What's your favorite?

Want more details:

For the month of September, get a FREE package of 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon-an $8.95 value-for every $40 you spend!

Choose from the following ribbons:

• Gumball Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
• Midnight Muse 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
• Primrose Petals 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
• Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon
• Summer Starfruit 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

In addition to that awesome promotion, they have also extended the two promotions from August!   You can still get the cool Halloween tray for signing up as demonstrator until September 16th AND the My Digital Studio 31% deals are going to continue until September 14th.  Be sure to visit my website to check out all the details!   

Now I'm off to do some digital scrapbooking while Miss Laila is napping.  :)   Have a wonderful weekend!