FMS110: Coffee!!!!!!!

Short post as I completely forgot to set my blog post up last night.  Ugh!  It's been that kind of week already.   I'm hosting the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  I made when ended up being a difficult sketch.   I hope my fellow designers aren't ready to kill me after it.  lol  I went pretty simple with my card and just used a mix of my coffee stamps. 

See?  It's kinda funky!  I hope you'll go play along!  I love seeing what everyone does with it. 

Getting a toddler to sit still long enough to pose for a picture is impossible!  lol  This was what we finally got, so I'll take it.  :)

Stampin' Up! Boots

Sorry it's been a few days... It's been busy and I haven't been stamping much at all.  Early Sunday morning we had a pretty bad storm that knocked our power out until almost noon.   When I came through the house, I found that we'd left the door to the refrigerator cracked that night too, so everything was warm and had to be thrown out.   It was pretty much a day of waiting for the electricity to come on and then grocery shopping.  Fun, fun!   Yesterday Jason worked and I was just tired, so I only managed to finish this card.   It's for Jennifer's HYCCT challenge to use boots.   Big thanks to my friend Anne Marie for stamping me some boots!

This morning we took Laila to the pumpkin patch at a local church.  The ladies and gentleman working there were so sweet and she had such a great time.  She picked out her little pumpkin almost as soon as we got there and carried it herself the entire hour we were there.   :)

Stampin' Up! Yippee Skippee!

Another post! Wow!  Laila took a nice nap today, so I was able to make an entire card AND clean up my desk!  Shocking I know!  Do you get this card?  I hope people will and not think it's stupid.  Dina's HYCCT challenge was about listening and she asked us to use ears.   She said ears of corn were okay, so I went with it.  :)

I love these two.  :)  She would only hold Jason's hand on the non-sidewalk parts.  lol

Stampin' Up! Evergreen

Vannessa had an interesting HYCCT challenge that really threw me for a minute.  Our card was to be Elvis-inspired!  I pulled out guitar stamps, sequins, but then I really thought about it and drew some inspiration from my childhood.  My mom always had the Elvis Christmas record (yeah, I'm old) playing around the holiday.  We used to get her a hard time about it growing up, but now I just smile when I hear those songs. I upgraded her to the CD back in my college years, so we can still enjoy the music as adults.  :)   Long story, but my card is based on Blue Christmas.

It's a simple card using the Evergreen set which is still available online.  I loved Ingrid's card and simplified it to make it work for me (and Laila's short naps).

Here's Miss Independent walking around the petting farm.  She loves to walk now!  We have to find her some better shoes.  6.5 seems like a difficult size to find, but we are going to look for some again tomorrow.  The rain needs to stay away so we can go to the pumpkin patch tomorrow too!

Posting through exhaustion...

Dudes... I'm tired!   Now that Jason is working an extra day each week I feel like there's no breaks.  It's go go go and go some more.   I think being busy keeps me from being so down, but man, I'm worn out.  I did managed to stamp some yesterday and today, so I thought I'd share my cards.  This card was for Lydia's Sending Flowers challenge to make a card with flowers.  I used my favorite flower set, Too Kind.  I love the Raspberry Ripple on Crumb Cake!

This card is for Kittie's challenge to create a scene.  I tried to make it look like a framed scene, but eh...  not so much.  I'm just happy to have made a card.  I'm struggling with the challenges this year. 

I have one more, but I'll share it tomorrow.  I'm ready for bed!  :)

Someone got to see a real live sheep this week!

FMS109: Kissed Ribbon

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  I *think* I followed Jen M's sketch close enough to count?  I had a bit of a rough day and had to try to stamp after a scary doctor visit, so my mind was about half on trying to make something and half on worrying.  I did combine it with KelliJo's HYCCT kiss challenge; if you look closely you can see that my ribbon has been kissed by the chevron stamp from Oh Hello. 

Hopefully that works and I don't get booted from the team for not following the sketch.  :)

Laila's hair is getting so long!  When she decides to put her food in it now, it's REALLY a mess!  lol

Pocket Full of Ribbons

I'm starting to think I won't finish the HYCCT challenges this year, but I haven't given up just yet!   I managed to finish up two yesterday and one today.   That leaves four more to be caught up.  Whew.  That's a lot, right?! Anyway, this card is for Bev's challenge to make a pocket card.   I kept it pretty simple and used up some of the awesome designer paper I found last year.   Here's the whole card:

The second card I wanted to share is for Teresa's challenge to make a tall card.  I used the measurements she recommended, 3 1/2 x 6 for my final card size.  I even made my own envelope with the awesome Envelope Punch Board!  :)  

Simple, but that sheet of designer paper was too fabulous to cover up too much.  :)

Laila LOVES the dishwasher and I guess now Buba does too.  :)   We are taking her to Old McDonald's Farm tomorrow to pet some animals and run around outside.  I hope she has fun!  

Starburst Cat

I managed to get Laila down for two SHORT naps yesterday, so I ran and tried to stamp while I could.  I managed to do two HYCCT cards.  I'm going with simple ones this year because that's pretty much what I have time for.  This one was for Patricia's challenge to use the Starburst techinque.   I used the cloud dies I bought with last year's HYCCT gift certificate I won from Your Next Stamp and the starburst dies from PTI.  That made it much easier to make.  :)

This card is for Stacy's challenge to use a fuzzy critter on your card.  I pulled out my boxes of old stamps to find a Fluffles stamp.  I had a bit of a Fluffles addition before I signed up with Stampin' Up!, so I thought it might be fun to use one of them.   I even tried coloring him with my Prismacolor pencils and baby oil.  I hadn't done that in forever either.

I love crazy hair pictures.   It will probably look like that today since she's already rubbed peanut butter in it at breakfast.  lol   I have stamp club tomorrow, so we'll be cleaning and working around the house today.  What a fun Saturday, right?

Blingtastic Hope

This is the last of the HYCCT cards I have made up.  I didn't get any made yesterday, so I'm falling way behind.  I really really REALLY hope I can catch up on Sunday!   This was for Donna's challenge to use glitter and rhinestones on your card.  I chose a simple sheet of the 8x8 paper I had for breast cancer awareness and trimmed it down.  I thought it was perfect to bling out!  No stamping required.  :)  

Laila does not want to let go of Buba (zebra) to eat, so he's getting a bit dirty.  I don't know if she's clinging to him because her teeth hurt or what, but everything requires his presence.

Stampin' Up! Wetlands and Owl Punch

I wanted to share a couple HYCCT cards that I made yesterday.   Jason and Laila had playtime, so I went to my room to try to get a bit of stamping in.  :)   This one is for Ardyth's challenge to make a card with no words on the front.   I wanted something serene, so I hope this works.  It was my first time getting a card made with the Wetlands set.   I colored a clear block with markers, sprayed it with water, and then stamped it on my paper.  I was inspired by Deena's card that I found on Pinterest.   It did have to dry for a while before I stamped the birds.   It's a fun look I think.   

Someone asked about the markers...  I'm not 100% sure as I had a ton of them on my desk, but I think going down in this order is close:  Soft Sky, Marina Mist, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand is close...   I tried a few times with different colors and different amounts of water, so you'll probably need to be prepared for some practice to get it how you want it.  

This card was for Tenia's challenge to make a Washi tape background.  I'm not sure mine qualifies as a background, but hopefully it counts.  Laila and I found this fun tape on our shopping trip last week so I just had to get it.  I knew it would come in handy for something!   I think this card would cheer up anyone.  :)

Laila had some of daddy's yummy mashed potatoes last night.  She hasn't been eating that well this week and I'm pretty sure it's the darn teeth again.  She also hasn't been napping much which is exhausting!   I have her by myself for four days a week now and that 30 minute break just doesn't seem like enough.   I can't get anything done.   Who needs a clean house or clean clothes, right?!  lol

Stampin' Up! Branch Out

It's Wednesday, which means a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Yay, right?!   Our sketch this week comes from the queen of layers, Narelle! I love the sketch; you can really layer it up as much as you like!  For mine I kept it more simple because I wanted my card to resemble a framed print.   Sort of anyway.   I did combine it with a HYCCT challenge from Patty:

In honor of October make a card featuring pink, green, & yellow with a touch of something shimmery or opal looking. You may use any shade of pink, green, & yellow that you wish, pastels, earthy tones, or bright tones. Keep the theme of the card upbeat and happy!

And the sketch:

I hope the card has a feeling of spring or renewal.  I wanted it to be simple, but cheery.   My bit of shimmer is on the boots which are embossed in Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  

My three loves relaxing together on the couch.  :)  

Cover It Up!

Another HYCCT card... this was one challenge that drove me nuts because I had zero ideas!   I hate when I get stumped on a challenge; it becomes a huge frustration for me and I avoid stamping.  I'm glad to have this one completed!  Here's Sabrina's challenge:
So my challenge is to make a card with a hidden message (or image) which you can uncover by opening a flap or swinging a hinged tag or panel - not just opening the card .

I'm trying to use up some of my Regal Rose paper and ribbon since it's retired.  It seems to work for the challenges and I'm happy to watch my hoard diminish a bit.  

We did a lot of reading yesterday.  By we I mean all of us, even the cats.  lol  

Stampin' Up! Too Kind

Okay, so I have a confession to make.  I am currently addicted to sequins.  :-/  I want to put them on EVERYTHING!   They totally don't go with this card, but I stuck them on there and they are stuck.   So...yeah.   I made this for Angela's HYCCT challenge:

My challenge to you is to make a card using words that are meant to inspire. What are words that keep you going? What's your mantra? Mine right now would have to be "Grow through it - you're stronger than you think you are" The inspiring words can be the focal point of your card or let the words go with the image you've used. 

A few weeks ago I found the live.love.laugh stamps in the dollar (or dollar fifty as this was) bin at Michael's.  Now I PROMISED myself I could NOT buy any of those stamps EVER again.  I have a ton of them in my shelf that have some dust (maybe a few inches) on them and I just don't use them.   But I loved this one...and it is a great mantra for life, right?!   Maybe I was psychic and saw this challenge coming even!  Ha!   Anyway, I love it and you'll probably be seeing a lot of it this month as I find it fitting for the challenges.

Stamps:  Too Kind, Miscellaneous awesome stamp
Ink:  Regal Rose, Old Olive
Accessories: SEQUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another picture from our park playdate last week.  :)   She's so cute.  I can say that, right?!

Double the Hope

It's been a few days, huh?  I haven't been stamping because Jason's been working and Laila doesn't like to nap longer than thirty minutes.  sigh   I did finish up this one I'd started last week for Lori's HYCCT challenge to use leaves.   I wanted to still use pink somehow and thought it might work with some black and gray.   I STILL miss French Foliage, so I dusted it off.  It's probably my favorite SU set I've bought.

Stamps:  French Foliage, A Muse Stamp Out Breast Cancer
Ink:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Paper:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Accessories:  Neutrals buttons (retired), White Baker's Twine

This second card is for Rebecca's HYCCT challenge to use metal.   Aluminum foil counted, so I embossed some with the Houndstooth embossing folder and paired it with a the Motorcycle stamp I printed from My Digital Studio.  

Stamps:  My Digital Studio, CTMH It's Your Day
Ink:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Paper:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Aluminum foil
Accessories:  Basic Black chevron ribbon
Tools: Houndstooth EF, Color Spritzer (retired)

Laila had a play date at the park on Friday.   As you can see, she was more into the mulch and pine cones.

Stampin' Up! Camo?

Well it's pink, so you know it's another HYCCT card.  :)   This one is for Lee's challenge:

Yes! We can fight cancer and we can WIN! And we can show our strength in PINK CAMO !!!! Pink is not only my favorite color...but the color of October...and a camo version is inspirational to fight, fight, fight!! I'm inspired by so many who I know are currently battling breast cancer as well as other types....and THEY ARE MY HEROES!!! So let's show them that we'll be fighting with them side by side!!! 

You can use pink camo ribbon, patterned paper, digital paper....or you can even make your own camo paper!!! I made my own background paper by stamping a solid image repetitively in many shades of pink ink!! It's that simple! You can also use a pink and black re-inker and swirl it on white ribbon or white flowers and make your own pink camo design!! 

I didn't have anything that even resembled camo, so I tried to use Gorgeous Grunge to make a camo background.  I hope it is passable.  I added my favorite, a Fun Flowers die flower! 

Stamps:  Too Kind, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink:  Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride

Paper:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Old Olive

Tools:  Big Shot, Fun Flowers die, Boho Blossoms punch, Oval punch

Accessories: Brights Glimmer Brads

Laila hasn't been napping long in her crib, but she'll go back to sleep just fine in our arms.  I don't know what's going on with that, but I make sure my Nook is handy so I can snuggle with her and read.   She crashed on me today after sleeping about 35 minutes in her crib.  I wish she'd sleep in it so I could stamp.  lol  Mommy needs downtime! 

HYCCT Fails

Another of my Hope You Can Cling To cards.  I don't think I like this one and sadly, it's the second attempt at this challenge!   I think I have some sort of mental block going on because I can't get this challenge completed and I've been stuck and not stamping for a couple days now.  I'm a few behind, which is NOT good if I hope to do them all. Hopefully I get a burst of creativity soon so I can stamp out some cards!

This was Beate's challenge:
Create a card Clean and Simple card. One or two layers....no bulky layers or embellishments. Keep it flat.

It shouldn't be THAT hard of a challenge, so I don't know what my problem is.  :-/   Here's my first attempt:

I tried the masking tape technique with some tape I crinkled up before inking and it didn't work out like I wanted.  I used the lightest current green, Pear Pizzazz, and it was still too dark.  Ugh.  Maybe I'll go back revive Certainly Celery and try again.

So that's my day of not stamping... How's yours?! 

Laila LOVES my purse.  Too much in fact.  She got a little mad that I zipped it up and she couldn't pull all my credit cards out.   Last time she did I lost a Visa and my Target card, so no more of that! 

FMS107: Stampin' Up! Halloween

I went simple this week for my Freshly Made Sketches card.  I had a busy day yesterday and limited craft...that means a simple card must do.  :)   I had a totally different idea in mind when I sat down to stamp, but a last minute idea led to this.   Maybe it was seeing the signs that the pumpkin patch is almost ready to open?!  Our fun sketch this week was created by one of our amazing leaders, Jen T.  

Stamps:  Toxic Treats (retired)

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive

Tools:  Big Shot, Spider Web EF (retired), XL Oval punch, Little Leaves sizzlit

Sometimes owls need CPR.  :)  

Stampin' Up! So Many Thanks

Another card for both Hope You Can Cling To and from my recent class.  I made it during my "not feeling inspired" phase and it is a total CASE of a card I found on Pinterest.   I LOVED it and wanted to make it using Stampin' Up! products.  I think it turned out alright, just not quite as good as the original.  Nothing ever is though, right?  :)  Here's Kathy's HYCCT challenge description:

It's so fun to design cards with our punches and die cuts to help us. Use either or both of them to design a card to encourage these patients and lift their spirits. That's it! Any sketch, any colors, just be sure to include a 'punch'. Let's hope we can truly 'punch out' breast cancer in our lifetime. In the meantime, the cards you make and send to them now provide so much support as they fight the fight. Thanks to all who can participate with us this month. 

Stamps:  So Many Thanks, Gorgeous Grunge, Positively Chevron

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Brights DSP stack

Accessories:  In Color Boutique Details, Linen Thread

Tools:  Big Shot, Square framelits, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Beautiful Butterflies die

I found Laila an owl costume for Halloween, but when we tried on the hood and cape, she quickly jerked it off.  We'll see how long she wears it.  lol  Hopefully long enough to maybe get a picture!  :)

Stampin' Up! Gently Falling

Still stamping away.  I don't know that I'm making the best cards, but I'm making them from my heart for a good cause, so that's good enough.  For this one I combined the awesome sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch

and Misti's challenge:

Many Colors of Cancer

Many of us have a loved one or friend that has been affected by cancer. Choose one of the colors of cancer from THIS Site & use it on your project. Feel free to use more than one color combo on your project, if you have more than one person going through a cancer battle. In your description, let us know why you choose the color(s) you did.

I used the closest color to emerald green that I had to honor my loved one with liver cancer.   My uncle was recently diagnosed with it and is starting chemo tomorrow.   He's pretty old and set in his ways, so I'm hoping he'll cooperate with treatment and try to stay here with us a bit longer.  I will probably make another version tomorrow in navy to honor my mother-in-law who passed away from colon cancer. 

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Truly Grateful

Ink/Paper: Garden Green

Tools:  Big Shot, Woodgrain embossing folder

We went on a little wagon ride not too long ago.  She loved it, so now that the weather has cooled off a bit I hope we can walk a lot.  :)