Tape It and Washi tape for Club

I'm meeting with my club ladies tomorrow night so I thought I'd share the projects we are making.  I decided to focus on Washi tape and the new Tape It set.   This first card is a CASE of a card found in our demonstrator magazine.  It has some great ideas for this set and this was one of them.  I was excited to finally find the time to open My Paper Pumpkin that had been sitting on my desk for months for it.  :)

Stamps:  Tape It, My Paper Pumpkin starter kit stamps

Ink:  Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  XL Oval punch, Decorative Label punch

This second card is the same layout as the top one, just flipped horizontal.  I used the Epic Day Washi Tape and DSP to make this one.  It has a very different look than the first one doesn't it? 

Stamps:  Blue Ribbon, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink:  Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral

Paper:  Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Epic Day DSP

Accessories:  Epic Day Washi tape, Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  Scallop circle and circle punches

 

Laila is officially ONE!   Her party isn't until Sunday, but we tried to make today special for her.   Daddy made her special pancakes for breakfast and then we went to the Houston Children's Museum to play for a bit.  She had lunch out and then presents and a cupcake after dinner.   I hope it was a good day for her.  She was sure worn out!  

FMS92: Send Me Soaring in In Colors

It's Wednesday and time for a new Freshly Made Sketches sketch!  This one comes Jen B and boy did she throw us a curve this week!  (ha ha, I know!)  My stamping struggles are still continuing, so my card this week is pretty blah.  I decided to use this sentiment and maybe I can send it to myself.  ;)

Stamps:  Send Me Soaring (retired)

Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe

Paper:  Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, In Colors DSP stack

Tools:  Big Shot, Cloudy Day embossing folder, circle punches

Accessories:  Pistachio Pudding Ruffled Stretch Trim, White Baker's Twine

My mom arrived today and she'll be staying two weeks with us!  I'm so excited.  She's already been laughing and having a great time with Miss Laila.   I still can't believe that she'll be one tomorrow.  Where has the past year gone?  

Catalog Inspired Too Kind

Still hanging in there and trying to stamp.   Today I pulled out some old catalogs and browsed the card layouts a bit.  I found one using Upsy Daisy that I thought would also work with Too Kind, so I tried it.  I think it turned out okay!  I am trying to use up some of my retired DSP, so I used the First Edition paper like the original card had and some of last year's patterns of the Brights stack that were in my scrap bin.   If you wanted to make it with current products only, it would be easy to stamp the Dictionary stamp for the words background and use the new patterns of the colors families.  

Stamps:  Too Kind, Happy Day

Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, First Edition (R), Brights DSP stack (R)

Accessories:  Linen Thread

Tools:  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch

This is what our house looks like on a regular basis now days.  Laila LOVES books and can't just have one open at a time.  It takes me a while to pick up once she's in bed.  ;)   

Blooming with Kindness and Too Kind

I know... YUCK!  I am struggling you guys!  Majorly struggling.  I sat down today with my bottle of gesso that I hadn't used and tried to do something with it.  It didn't go so well as you can see.   I probably shouldn't even post this, but I think we need to share our good and bad.   I can already see a million things I could do differently, so maybe when my heart is back into stamping I can try again.  

With the leftover piece and some scraps from around my room, I did put together this 4.25 inch square cards and I like it a bit better.  It's super simple and kinda cute I guess.  I just wish I'd stamped the sentiment AFTER I put it together as it looks crooked and is driving me nuts now.  

I hope you are having a better crafty weekend!

Another picture from Laila's mall photo shoot.  I'm pretty sure she was crawling away yet again when they snapped it. lol

Stampin' Up! Zoo Babies for HSS

I have been having a rough week emotionally, so I tried to find some time to stamp today.   I loved the sketch at Hand Stamped Sentiments, so I used it to get me started.  I'm not sure where the Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight combination came from, but it looks happy to me.

Stamps:  Zoo Babies, Tape It, Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired)

Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight

Paper:  Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight Coredinations, Whisper White

Tools:  Big Shot, Alphabet Press embossing folder, Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, and Mat

Laila got her own little box of goodies today!   We tried out a monthly subscription thing for her and it came today.   We probably won't keep it, but it was fun to get one and let her open it.  The sun hat will definitely come in handy next week as her grandma is coming down and wants to take her for some rides in her wagon! 

FMS91: Sweet Essentials Butterflies

Cindy has a fantastic sketch for everyone this week at Freshly Made Sketches!   I decided to make a clean-and-simple card for mine, but added a bit of a twist by using black instead of the more traditional white.  I wanted to play along with Dynamic Duos, so the color choice came straight from there.  There's not much too it, but I kinda like it.  :)

Stamps:  Sweet Essentials

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Basic Black, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Gingham Garden DSP

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, butterfly punches, scallop border punch

    

Laila had her birthday pictures yesterday and I'm curious to see how they will turn out.  She was making some weird faces and kept crawling away every time we tried to get her to pose.  I snapped this one with my phone as she was digging into her smash cake.   It's the first time she's really had any sugar, so she was sucking the icing off her fingers.  Thankfully she didn't get too much! 

Stampin' Up! Happy Day for CASE Study

I decided I need to do better about doing challenges so today I tried a new one called CASE Study!  It's awesome too and I will definitely be playing again.  I used some retied products and scraps for this one as I'm really trying to use up some DSP.   I know a lot of people don't like using retired things on their blogs but I have way too much stuff in my craft room that I love NOT to use it.   

Stamps:  Happy Day 

Ink:  Basic Gray

Paper:  Basic Gray, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, various retired DSP

Accessories:  Basic Pearls

Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Beautiful Butterflies die, Tasteful Trim die, Little Leaves die

For Father's Day, I had some pictures taken and framed one for Jason.  I also made him a card with her footprint.  It was a simple gift, but we are pretty simple folks.  :)  We also went out for breakfast this morning so that was nice.  Laila did great and even found her a little boyfriend sitting behind her.  She just adores other kids. 

Beach Birthday Invitations!

Whew!  I finally finished Laila's birthday invitations!   We decided to keep the party small, so I didn't have to make too many thank goodness!   She's having a beach themed party, so my sweet friend Mindy was kind enough to send me this retired set to use for her invitations.  Thank goodness for our demo sisters, right?!   I mixed up a bunch of bright colors and I'm not totally sure it worked, but they are done and I managed to use up some retired stuff. 

Now if I can figure out all the stuff I need to get ready for her birthday pictures on Tuesday and then finish up her party decorations all will be good!

I took her to the mall yesterday to get some quick pictures in this cute dress.  I just loved it and knew I wanted some pictures before she outgrew it.  She looked so, so cute!  I just can't believe how big she's getting.  It's crazy how fast the time goes by...   Now today, it's been long, but you know what I mean.  ;)

FMS90: Too Kind

It's time for a new sketch at the fabulous Freshly Made Sketches!  Linda C. is our hostess this week and she gave us this gorgeous sketch to work with:

For my card I used my favorite new set and favorite new color combination.   Too Kind is really awesome.  If you don't have it on your wishlist, I totally recommend that you add it!  It's lovely and so easy too!   The new Color Coach has the combination of Smokey Slate, Pear Pizzazz, and Pool Party listed and I am a bit addicted to those.  Aren't they great together?!  Man do I love my Color Coach! 

Stamps:  Too Kind

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate

Paper: Smoky Slate, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Gingham Garden DSP

Accessories:  Neutrals buttons (retired), Pool Party Baker's Twine (retired)

Laila LOVES books.  There's always 5 or 6 spread out around the living room and she is constantly flipping through them.  I love it!   I try to read a few to her every night and she cries and throws a fit when we finish lately.  That's good and bad I guess.  :)

Crazy Mixed Up Light Bulb

I wanted to play along with the sketch at Create with Connie and Mary this week but Jason got called out to work today and my stamping time was limited to naps.   Of course that meant that Laila took short naps.  ;)   I did run in and stamp once he got home and here's what I came up with.  I just had to have this stamp set and I love funny and cute stamps!  

Stamps:  Crazy Mixed-Up Love
Ink:  Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray
Paper:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Brights Coredinations and DSP stack
Accessories:  Brights button, White Baker's Twine
Tools:  Big Shot, 2 1/2 circle punch, Perfect Pennants die, sanding block, Stripes embossing folder

Laila's new favorite thing?  High Fives!!  :)  

VSN: Too Kind

Laila took a nap this morning that was actually a good one, no waking up crying, so I got to stamp a bit.   Splitcoast has a Virtual Stamp Weekend going on so I thought I'd try to play with some of those challenges.   The first one I did was to CASE a card of Lee's.   I chose this one and this is what I came up with.  I am really enjoying this stamp set!  It's so pretty and easy to do.   I'm so thankful that I bought it in wood mount!

Stamps:  Petite Pairs, Too Kind

Ink:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi

Paper:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi

Accessories:  Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Neutrals buttons (retired)

Laila loves this zebra!   She will put it in her mouth and crawl around with it.  lol 

Zoo Babies for Fab Friday

More new stuff!  Zoo Babies is my favorite set from the new catalog and one I couldn't wait to get my hands on.   I paired it the the new Dictionary background and the Alphabet Press embossing folder.  Aren't they fabulous together?!  I used the cute sketch at Fab Friday to make this lovely little card.  

Stamps:  Zoo Babies, Dictionary

Ink:  Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight Coredinations, Whisper White

Tools:  Big Shot, Perfect Pennants die, Alphabet Press EF, 2 1/2 circle punch

Accessories:  Neutrals buttons (retired), White Baker's Twine

We bought Laila a tunnel the other day and it's been a hit...with the cats.  lol  She's crawled through it a few times, but they LOVE it.  

Yay for New Stamps!!!!

I finally finished my Convention display samples today!  Yay!!!!!!!!  I was so excited to get to ink up my new catalog goodies tonight!   I decided to try the new sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.   

Too Kind was one of the first sets that I fell in love with in the new catalog.  Now that's a bit shocking because I normally dislike...okay hate, two step stamps.   There was just something about this one though...  I really liked stamping with it, so yay!  The color combination is from my shiny new Color Coach too!

Stamps:  Too Kind

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Gingham Garden DSP

Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 3/8 circle punch

Accessories: Basic Pearls

It has been a fussy, clingy week for Laila.  I survived today, but I still have two more days alone with her.  Wish me luck!  This was us playing last week trying to get a picture on the giraffe.   

FMS89: Branch Out

It's Freshly Made Sketches day!   Or now as it should be called, Rita Is Still Alive Day!  ;)   I promise I'm almost finished with my display stamper samples.  Four more and I'll be back to normal.  Well, I have to work on Laila's birthday party so semi-normal.   My goal for July is to complete a challenge every day, so maybe I'll get back to posting a lot then! 

So last week I wrote about how much I'd love this set and how it was not in my budget at all.   Well, a lovely lady named Pat made me the happiest stamper ever by sending it my way.   I wanted to make a card for her with it, so here it is.  :)  I used the gorgeous new in colors along with my favorite color, Early Espresso.  I think they work together beautifully!  

Stamps:  Branch Out (OMG! Never thought I'd be typing THAT out!)

Ink: Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Coastal Cabana

Paper:  Early Espresso, Crisp Cantaloupe, 2013-2015 In Color DSP stack

Tools:  Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder

Accessories:  Naturals Designer buttons, Early Espresso baker's twine

Yesterday we bought a new car.  I am beyond excited and scared to death!  We both had 2000 models that we bought 14 years ago, so it has been a long time since we had a car payment.  The truck that I normally drive was starting to have issues and Jason felt that it was time for us to find a new one.  We are enjoying it so far and feel safer with Laila riding in it.   

Laila woke up from her nap with the craziest hair this week.  It was so cute that I couldn't bear to comb it back down.  :)