Hungry for Cupcakes

Hi friends! I hope your weekend is going well. It's been such a long day here, but I did get my card made. We are 17 days into our card every day challenge and we all three have stayed on track! It's crazy. This card I made for the new challenge at TIME OUT Challenges. Their prompt is hungry and well, who doesn't love a cupcake? We have a house divided on icing here, as Jason hates buttercream icing and I love it. So we don't get a lot of cupcakes. He's more of a cheesecake person anyway, so that's what he gets on his birthday. 

Look at my gorgeous visitor from yesterday. She stayed around and visited my flowers for a bit and I loved watching her. I think I got a bunch of mosquito bites while standing there, but she was so worth it. These butterflies are pretty rare to see in my area, so it was such a treat. 

Panda Smiles

I actually made a card over the weekend, so I thought I'd share. I keep hoping to find time to stamp, but I think I need to work on cleaning out my room some. Just too much stuff!!  Laila's things seem to drift in here as well, so it just has a cluttered feel that doesn't lead to creativity. I've been wanting to paint it and rearrange it, so it might be the perfect time for all that. :) This set uses some masking and a little coloring. Pandas are easy for coloring. lol

For our fun activities at school today we did a science experiment with yeast and hydrogen peroxide and dissected an owl pellet. Super fun!! Little Lady was very intrigued by the smell of the fur from the pellet, so she kept trying to assist. Messy activities, but fun! We did a little math and worked on compound words as well. It was rainy, so we just did a trip to the library to get some new books.

I'm exhausted, so I'm off to finish up the kitchen and talk Laila into some quiet reading time. I love that she reads chapter books now by herself so that we can both read our own books. :)

Hang in There

Happy Friday!  I managed a little crafty time today and my poor card looks a lot like our current weather. We need rain, so I can't really complain too much. My garden will be happy.  :)  I used the colors from the Calling All Sistahs challenge. I need to hunt out all my encouragement stamps so I can make up more of those type of cards. There's always people who need a lift!

I've been tired today, so now that I've managed to upload my card I am off to bed to read. Or maybe watch a show. I found the Stephen King Mr. Mercedes show to watch and I'm curious to see if it's as good as the book. I'm assuming no because they never are, but I will give it a go!

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Dare to Get Dirty Day Something or Other

I'm back!  This card here totally derailed my creativity.  I struggled forever to find a layout that worked and tore it apart several times.  I had to color the girl a couple times.  It almost made me give on the challenges, but I'm back in the game now.  :)  I love this sweet little image.  Perfect get well card for a tea lover.

I've been trying to play with my watercolors a bit more, so this one is pretty simple.  A watercolor wash and then the die cut and sentiment.  I decided to add some sequins because I have so many!

I woke up at 5am today and couldn't go back to sleep. I figured I'd come color a bit.  I ended up with this card.  I love these little critters and it's been ages since I'd used them.  I don't have a lot of birthday cards for kids, so this will be gladly added to my stash. 

And finally this guy.  I don't have a clue about steampunk, but I found this image and thought it would be the closest to my style that I'd find.  It was fun and HARD to color, but I did it!  Whew!

I'm off to shower and then head out to the doctor.  It's a rainy blah day, so maybe I'll get more cards made when I get back.  :) 

Maskerade of Animals

August is apparently the month for birthdays!  What happened 9 months ago?  lol   I have so many friends with birthdays this month so I'm trying to crank out some cards for them.  I saw that Online Card Classes was having a sale this week (ends today by the way!) on classes so I took a peek.  I saw the Maskerade class that I never really finished because I didn't have the supplies and thought hmm...  So this card is the results of the first lesson.  :)   I still might go sign up for a new class, but I have several that I can revisit and do again with supplies that I have now.  It will feel all new in a way!  If you've never tried a class, go look and give one a chance! I love every single one I've taken.

And this card has too many random sequins.  We won't talk about the smudges they are hiding.  Oops!

Stamps:  Avery Elle Furry Friends, Mama Elephant Carnival Toppers, Avery Elle Party Animal
Paper:  Neenah Solar white 80/110 lb
Ink:  Mememto Tuxedo Black
Dies: MFT Blueprints 20
Copics: E31, E33, E35, E42, E43, E44, W1, W3, W4, R20, BG01, BG02 BG05, V12, V15, V17
Other: Inkadinkado Masking Paper, Sequins

Happy Monday!  Enjoy your week!

Simon Says Red White and Blue

I managed to make a card yesterday!  I actually have a little pile of things to blog, so you might be in for a treat this weekend.  :)   This card is for the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge.  It is a bit more technique/mixed media type challenge, so I figured I should start playing since I am so in love with Tim Holtz products.  :)   This week's challenge was to do a Red, White, and/or Blue project.  I thought I'd just go with them all and a make a card to send to someone with a birthday in July.  I have several friends already who I need to mail one to, so it might be heading out of my craft room tomorrow!

Stamps: Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes, Altenew Label Love
Ink:  Copics, Blueprint Sketch and Candied Apple Distress Inks, Versafine Black Onyx
Dies: My Favorite Things Stitched Scallop Circles plus Stampin' Up! Stars embossing folder
Embellishments:  Studio Calico Wood Veneers Stars, Wink of Stella, seam binding

When my friend Meg got here, Laila didn't waste any time getting her to craft!  :)  

Freshly Made Sketches 218

Hello everyone!  It's time for Freshly Made Sketches to start back up for the year!  Our first sketch comes from the talented enabler who has me buying Taylored Expressions products now, Kim!   Her sketch is so interesting and it will be great to see how everyone interprets it!  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do at first, but as I flipped through my stamps I saw this set and the idea came to me!  Thank goodness for cloud embossing folders and dies!  :)

The design team made some fabulous samples to inspire you, so make sure you go over and check them out!   

Stamps:  Mama Elephant Up & Away

Can you believe how big Sadie is now?  She's a small horse!   She's still all legs and can maneuver herself through the tiny cat door in our gate.  She's CRAZYsauce and super smart, so pretty much a canine version of Laila.  lol  

Total Pandamonium

Sharing a little bit of Pandamonium with you this evening.  It feels like it describes my day.  lol   This challenge was to use masking to make a group as the focus of your card.   I love these cute pandas from Mama Elephant and I thought they'd be fun to use for this one.

Laila was very proud of the little treats we prepared for her classmates at MDO.  :)    She did such a great job helping me put them together.  It was such a nice little crafty time for us.  She went to MDO today but I got a call a few hours later that she was crying and wanting to come home.  She said she wasn't feeling well, but of course she's been fine since we got home.  Go figure! lol

A Triple Shot of Hope

I took the day off from stamping yesterday, but got back to it today!   I am so behind on the HYCCT challenges that I'm not sure I'll be able to finish them this year.  :(   Sad face.  I'm trying, but it seems a bit impossible.  Anyway...  One of the challenges was to use the backs of your photopolymer stamps to make a card.   I thought this set from Ellen Hutson would be fun.  I stamped off and stamped the back to make the background for my flowers and leaves and then reversed the stamps to the correct side and stamped that full strength.   It's a super simple card, but I think it makes a nice thinking of you card.

The next challenge I worked on was all about relationships.   I thought about who might be at the cancer center seeking treatment for breast cancer and how they might have their children their supporting them.   I think it would be nice for the children to have a card for their mom, so that's the relationship I focused on.   I used the sweet Bear Hugs set from Mama Elephant because the images and sentiment are just the best.

And finally, this challenge was to make an encouragement card.  I thought the sentiment was perfect for that.  I hope balloons work too.  They remind me of the movie Up.  

One of the churches near Laila's MDO does a little pumpkin patch fundraiser every year and we always go.   We hadn't been this year since she's been sick, but we managed to stop by yesterday on our way home from picking her up.   She had such a good time and picked out this funky gourd to bring home.  Her favorite part though?  The see-saw!

Freshly Made Cupcake

Greetings!   It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.   Kim is our fabulous sketch designer this week and she made up a great one.   I think I almost followed the sketch this time too!  :)    I feel like I've been turning into the team member who looks like they used the wrong sketch, so I tried to shape up this week.  lol

I used a sweet little cupcake set from Mama Elephant for my card.  I don't usually do pinks, but I have some birthdays coming up that I need girly cards for so I went for it.   Plus I also had new pink Copics that I wanted to try out.  :)   

Totally cried when I saw this picture.  She looks so grown up!   She finally let us put her hair in a ponytail and she looks like a different kid. Sad face. 

Masked Flowers for OCC

I thought I'd share another card I did for the Online Card Classes Mask-erade class.   I don't have all the recommended supplies yet, so I have been trying to improvise so I can try the techniques.   I dug out an old Stampin' Up! set that I don't even know the name of to do this one.   I needed some little flowers and vines and it seemed to work.   I used Pool Party, Island Indigo, and Pear Pizzazz.   I hate that giant sequin, but it's covering up a mistake.  Sad face.   I did learn a lot making this, so hopefully the next one is even better!

Don't you just love that look on her face?  lol   So mischievous!  I ended up a bit wet after trip outside to play.   I guess it's fun to squirt your mom.  I can't believe she'll be 3 this month!   I am not doing a big party or anything this year since we don't have a lot of friends and family near us, so I am trying to think of something fun to do.   We did buy her a little bounce house for the backyard, so I'm guessing she'll be jumping most of the day.  Oh, and eating strawberry cake.  She's told me several times now that she wants strawberry cake.   I'll be looking on Pinterest for that I guess!

Masked Animals

This week I got lucky and won a spot in the newest Online Card Classes class called Mask-erade.  I was super excited as it is something I've wanted to learn to do for ages.   It's not something that I try much because I feel pretty clueless about it.   I've learned a lot so far and this is my first attempt.   I love how it turned out.  :)

If you haven't taken any of the classes over there, I totally recommend them.  I've enjoyed the Stenciled and Copics for Cardmakers classes that I took before and this masking class is great as well.  

Stamps:  Mama Elephant Carnival Cupcakes, Altenew Super Script
Ink:  Memento Black, Melon Mambo, Copics
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, SU Pixie Pink Textured, misc pink scraps
Other:  Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangle dies

Stampin' Up! Indescribable Gift

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.   Jen T. is our hostess this week and she definitely challenged the team.   I am amazed at what everyone came up with, so now I'm really looking forward to the gallery!  

I'm a bit obsessed with coloring this image lately, so hopefully you aren't getting sick of seeing it.  Such a gorgeous flower stamp.   If you haven't purchased it yet, do it!   

My mom made it around dinner time yesterday and they are already having a blast.  :)   It's so fun to see.   

Bears for Mojo Monday

Do you ever see a stamp set that just grabs you?   This set from Mama Elephant did that for me.  The images are so sweet and the sentiments even make my eyes water.  ;)   This was my first attempt at coloring the sweet bears.   I used the layout from Mojo Monday to make them into a card.

I am feeling refreshed today after a fun day out with friends yesterday.  We got pedicures and had lunch.  So nice!    I am loving my Bermuda Bay polish on my toes.  :)  

Freshly Made Smiles

Happy Wednesday.  I hope the week has good so far!  It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  I am the hostess this week, so I hope you like the sketch!

I went pretty simple with my card.  It's all Stampin' Up! paper in Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, and Tangerine Tango.  Weird combo, but it was what I was in the mood for the other night. 

It's been a long day for me, so I'm posting this early on Tuesday night and heading off to read and relax until Jason gets home.  We have been watching Dexter on Netflix,  so I have to behave and wait on him so we can start season three.  :)   

FMS Panda!

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Our lovely queen of layers, Narelle, is our sketch designer this week.  I thought I probably should mat each of my layers in Narelle style, but then I got lazy.  lol  Jason's birthday is tomorrow, so I made this cute little card for him and will stamp a happy birthday message inside.   I hope he likes it.  :)

Remember you can interpret the elements many ways.  I think the team did a great job of illustrating that this week!  I stayed pretty true to the sketch.  Again, lazy.  :)   I love this new panda set I got from Mama Elephant.  It's been on my wishlist for ages and I got it with some of my Christmas money. Yay!

She's just about quit napping for me, but we do have quiet time every day where she can play in her crib or go to sleep.   After she likes to snuggle with me on my bed and we watch a PBS show together.  It's nice and relaxing for us both.  

Welcome Baby

Here's my last card with all the cute little Mama Elephant images that I recently colored.  I just love this one!   Someone have a baby so I can send it already! lol

I am so happy as I finally got some sleep last night!   The cats have been waking me up at 4:30 the past few nights and I was so tired.   They were nice and I didn't wake up until Laila was singing to me through the monitor this morning.  I feel so much better.   Whew!

We ventured out to Target yesterday and took our usual tour of the holiday department.  Laila just loves all the Christmas stuff so much.   She likes to hold all these critters.  We've went over being gentle with them and she is so careful.   She thought this one had a cat hair on it and you can see by her face how she felt about that.  Ha!

Balloons for Baby

Another little baby card using the cute Mama Elephant set.   I have one more little monkey colored and ready for a card, so I promise I'll move on a to different set soon.  :)   I wanted to enter this one in the Wednesday Simon Says Stamp challenge since it's anything goes this week.

That face!   Now she keeps asking to go talk to Santa and go see him, but we aren't up for another round this year.   She loves the idea of him and is so into Christmas!

Birthday Balloons

I hope everyone survived Thanksgiving!   We had a small dinner with just the three of us and it was nice.  I miss having family to cook for, but we made it work.  :)   Laila has stopped taking naps and is going to bed earlier, so I have been getting in some stamping time in the evenings.  I was thinking it would be awful once she stopped napping, but we now have quiet time and she goes to bed earlier and easier, so it's been good!

This Mama Elephant set is one of my current favorites.  I love the little animals so much!

She is so in love with the tree this year!   She also has a small one in her room and loves it just as much.  :)  She's been rearranging the ornaments, so it might look a bit crazy by the time we make it to Christmas.  lol

Last Hope

Another huge round of cards for Hope You Can Cling To!  This will be my last post about them as I finally FINISHED!  Yay. I love being able to do all 35 cards, but it seemed extra challenging to finish them all this year.  I am happy that my mom and Jason both encouraged and supported me to make it happen.  Now on to the cards (and then on to cleaning the house! Yikes):

This one using the MFT Bokeh Builder set for Kelli's bokeh challenge.  Pretty easy choice of stamps for this one.  lol     I used one Tim Holtz Distress Ink pad for all the pink and just stamped off to get the different shades.  

Kathy's challenge was all about the book The Fault in Our Stars and asked for a romantic card to give to a significant other.   I think this image is so sweet and it was sitting on my shelf brand new and needing love.   Jason is sweet and cuts up apples for me all the time, so I thought it was pretty fitting for the love of my life.

Lydia's final challenge for this year was to make a card based on our favorite children's book.   I love books and always have, so it was hard to pick just one.  I do remember being super obsessed with a book called Spooky Tricks and decided to do a magic card.  I actually won a The Cat's Pajamas gift certificate one year from the HYCCT challenges and got this stamp with it.  :)   Perfect, right?!

This sweet little bunny from Mama Elephant just had to make another appearance on my cards.   Tabbatha's challenge was to use two different mediums on your creation.  I used distress inks, craft ink, and alcohol markers for mine.    The clouds are another HYCCT prize that I picked with a gift certificate from Your Next Stamp!   I love being able to use previous prizes on these cards.  

Here's an almost all Stampin' Up! card for you purists.  :)  Teresa's challenge was about cheering and we spelled out BOOBS. ha!   Blue, circle element, round embellishment, and black.    

Angie's card was about tilted layers.   I was almost asleep the other night and the idea for this one popped in my head.  I started telling Jason all about it and I think he was confused as to why I was thinking about stamping when I was supposed to be going to sleep.   Men are just so different from women!  I do my best thinking right before I fall asleep.  He got me this fun Texas stamp last year for a stocking stuffer and I thought it was time I inked it up.   I kept the card clean like the Texas flag.  

This is the last one.  I actually plan to go back and add some Crumb Cake seam binding to it because I'm not happy with the end result.  The challenge was Susie's to make our own background, no designer paper.   I love my background, but not the rest of the card.  Hopefully I can get it apart and fix it before I mail it off.   The SU World Map stamp is so fun with watercolor paper and distress inks! 

My little picture helper this morning.  She's telling me all about the Texas she found on this card.  lol