Stampin' Up! Branch Out

Playing along with the weekly color challenge over at Splitcoast. It was olive, suede, and gold, but I had to substitute because I don't have gold.  I feel like a one person anti-gold club.  lol I love silver, but I've never purchased gold paper that I can remember.  I don't know if I even have gold embossing powder.  It's probably gross by now if I do.

This card was a bit of a blast from the past for me. It's more the original style I started out as. And it's only Stampin' Up! products too.  I've been trying to declutter my room and figure out what I want to keep and what to donate/sell, so I thought I'd play around with some stuff before I decided on them. I'd never get rid of Branch Out EVER, but some inks and paper might have to go.  I have so much.  I may hang on to it for a while and see if I need it when I volunteer with the PTO this fall. Or maybe not. lol SO MUCH STUFF.

We haven't had any pictures of Laila done in ages because she just won't cooperate. Last month we went home to Kentucky to visit with family and I had my cousin try to do some.  She didn't cooperate of course, but he did manage to get a few good shots. Not posed studio ones, but ones that reflect her I feel.

Now I'm off to bed. It's been a long week and I'm pooped. Laila has play therapy at 8am, so we'll be getting up early.  Yawn

CAS(E) this Sketch 205

I had pulled Branch Out to use this week and I found the perfect sketch for it at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I wanted to do a very clean card that made me think of the starkness of winter.  We've been having a lot of cardinals at our feeder this week, so I had to add him to my tree for a little splash of color.  This set is so elegant and beautiful.  It works for simple cards, but there are lots more stamps you can use to add leaves, butterflies, etc.  It's one of my absolute favorites and I'll always be thankful to Pat for gifting it to me.  It is loved.

I'm off to open the bag I brought home from Michael's today.  It has some fun new goodies in there, so I'm excited to find a place for them in my room.  :)

Have a great weekend!

Rita

Winter Thinking of You

I thought I'd share another card we made in my class on Sunday.  I had pinned this video from Penny Black ages ago and thought it might be a fun technique to try with my ladies.   I had a bit of a touch time with it using watercolors, but it was pretty easy with distress inks.  Their cards all turned out so great and I was so happy at how adventurous they were in trying it.  I did take a big leap and let them use my awesome Branch Out set that I don't like to share.  lol  (Thanks again, Pat!)

I'm enjoying the freedom of teaching classes with no worry about who makes the product or if it is retired.  I love not worrying able selling things either.   I loved my time with Stampin' Up!, but I'm having a blast with so many other products.  I keep debating on selling off more of my SU stuff, but I know I still love some of it and will get back to using it more one day.   I think...  ;)

Laila loved the local nature park we went to and it really is a great place.  They have a playground, a center with all these bones/skeletons/skins as well as furs and preserved bugs and birds, live snakes and turtles, a turtle pond, and a little old time village where they host heritage days.  They have a program for 3/4 year olds, so I signed her up to go next month.  I hope she enjoys it!

Stampin' Up! Branch Out

I didn't get to stamp yesterday, but I still have another card that I haven't shared with you yet.  This is another Dare to Get Dirty challenge card. I don't know if I'll get anymore made for the challenges, but I've had a lot of fun so far.  For this one I used two favorite stamps, Hardwood and Branch Out (Thanks, Pat!).   The window is from my Cameo.  That thing sure comes in handy!   Chocolate Chip and Island Indigo are a very lovely color combination aren't they?

Laila's Hope Calendar pictures were yesterday and we got a little preview of them already.  They turned out great!   Debi is just such a great photographer.   After the pictures wasn't good and we had a bit of a rough day, but we survived and are here to try another day!

Post by Debi Gomez, Life's Images Photography.

Stampin' Up! Branch Out

It's Wednesday and you know what that means!  Freshly Made Sketches!  Yay!  The amazing Linda is our hostess this time.  I just adore her and I hope she feels the same (and forgives me for messing up the sketch!).  lol    Laila has something going on lately and just does NOT want to nap.  I was behind and had to throw together a card in about 30 minutes yesterday.  This was the end result and it's a bit off from the sketch.  I should have looked again before I stamped, but the time was short and it is what it is...  :)

See?  My card is a bit off.   I hope it's close enough to pass.  When you add in a toddler, I think close is good.  I'm going with that anyway!  :)  

She managed to rub a lot of food into her hair at dinner yesterday.  Hot mess! 

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!

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.  :)  

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.  :)