IC599: Stampin' Up! Butterfly Basics

I sat down to stamp today and yet again, felt lost on what to make.  I decided to go back to where I started, Splitcoast Stampers.  I haven't been over there for a while, but there are always great challenges.  Today's challenge is the Inspiration Challenge.  There's a link to a Pinterest board of gorgeous baskets to take inspiration from.  I chose this basket and wanted to use the Butterfly Basics stamp set.  I am in a mood to use butterflies and cats.  I actually NEED some cat stamps, so I'm on the lookout for some cute ones.  :) I have a lot of cat loving friends I like to make cards for but not that many choices to use.

The background is the Watercolor Wash background from Stampin' Up! I find it fun to play around with that one to see what looks you can get.  I inked it with Smoky Slate, stamped off, and then sprayed lightly with water before stamping on watercolor paper.  I liked the look. I used that same method on the fern stems.

I'm off to figure out dinner.  Jason finished up Laila's playset today, so he's tired.  I haven't felt the best, but I think I can handle cooking some hot dogs.  :)

Have a great weekend. zIC

Taylored Expressions Birthday Grumplings

I couldn't get a good picture of this one, but I thought I'd post it anyway.  I love these grumpy guys. I have a few friends who they are just perfect for. :)  I wanted to use more than one of them, so I tried to come up with a layout/plan to do that.  I think it works okay.  Too many sequins, but I wanted it to look like a party.  A grumpy critter party.

So here's one reason why I haven't been posting much lately.  I haven't been stamping much because I've been working on the garden.  I added more plants and have been babying these caterpillars!  I decided to raise them inside this year so that more could make it through the stages successfully.  Right now I have about 8 that are this size, 1 small little guy, and three eggs.  I have three containers with them and have to keep them in fresh leaves. Man do they poop a lot!  Clean, clean, clean! It's been amazing to watch though.  Tonight we sat outside and watched a lot of different butterflies, bees, and birds visit the garden.  Our weather has been perfect for it.  I'm going to be sad when summer starts and it gets hot and gross.

 My other time consuming thing is Weight Watchers.  I decided to start back almost two weeks ago.  It's been a lot of work with grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking, and walking, but I feel great.  I haven't taken any depression or anxiety meds in a few weeks.  I don't know that I won't ever need them, but it's been nice to feel okay without them for a bit.  I am glad they worked and helped me get to the point where I can try to start taking better care of myself. Five pounds down so far!

Laila and I have also been busy going plant shopping, going to parks, and just hanging out. So that's what is going on with me.  I'll be back to stamping more once I get a better routine going.  :)

Mojo Monday 483

Trying to keep up the momentum again. I'm tired today, but I did finish this card for the new sketch at Mojo Monday.  I used more patterned paper than I do these days, but it's fun to revisit your old style sometimes, right?  :)  I think the cat has a good message too.

Layers, layers, layers!  :)  

What? You don't check your mail while wearing a chef's hat?  :)

Grumpy Bunny Birthday

Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches!  Jen B is our sketch artist this time and I hope she doesn't mind I added a circle. :)   I wasn't sure what I wanted to make but then the Easter Bunny brought me some Brusho Watercolor Crystals!  I used them for my background and wow!  It was so easy the first time out of the box!  I added some Bermuda Bay and Coastal Cabana papers and the gumpy little bunny from the Taylored Expressions Grumplings and called it good.  Now I need to find a fellow grumpy person that can appreciate this card.  lol

I hope everyone had a great Easter!  We were up super early that day, but Laila had a blast digging in to her basket.  She got her own kitchen gadgets and I'm pretty sure they were her favorite.  We used them on Monday to make pancakes.  :) 

Isn't she a doll?  :)   She had so much fun making a mess...and pancakes.  She wanted to make them again yesterday too!  I have a feeling we will be eating a lot of butterfly shaped pancakes for a while.  

Share Joy with the Grumplings

I know I am!  lol  I love these Grumplings from Taylored Expressions so much.   This one and the sentiment are so me at the moment.  I feel like we just skipped weeks ahead and now I'm behind.   I haven't mailed out any cards, wrapped any gifts, or even hung the stockings!   Tomorrow is going to be a super busy day!   The layout for my card is from the sketch at the current TE Share Joy Challenge.  I just fudged a bit and made it into a rectangle since I have a mental block with square cards.

Hopefully I'll be back soon with my Two Paper Divas card and a couple of other miscellaneous cards I made a while back and haven't shared.  Until then...  

I thought I'd share my birthday gift before I left.  I turned forty (ugh) on Saturday and Jason gave me money to go shopping for the animal shelter as my gift. It's what I asked for and I'm so happy he listened.   It was great to fill the cart up and then drive it all down to the shelter.  I hope it helps the animals!  

Share Joy with the Grumplings

Did you take advantage of any of the Thanksgiving sales?   I finally got this adorable Holiday Grumplings set from Taylored Expressions.   I thought I'd use it this week for the Share Joy challenge.   Even grumpy cats can spread joy, right?  :)   I just love his little face!!   He reminds of my Bella.  lol

Part of the challenge is to send out your card to someone.  I have a special friend who is married to a man obsessed with Frozen, so I made this one for her.  She loves moose, so I found the cutest moose ornament to send along with it.   

Sadie got her Christmas present a bit early.  We found this awesome bed for her at Costco yesterday! 

Tattoo of Hope

Isn't this an adorable image?  I saw it on the Taylored Expressions website and just knew it was perfect for the HYCCT challenges.   I was so excited to use it on a card this week.   It is for the challenge to use an image that would make a pretty tattoo.   I love the sentiment as well!

Laila and I had a craft day yesterday to make tags and treat bags for her classmates at Mother's Day Out.  This expression when she started using the Big Shot totally cracked me up!   She finally got some sleep last night thanks to the Zyrtec her doctor suggested we add in, so we are going to try to let her go to school today.   Fingers crossed.

Grumpy Birthday

I wanted to share another card I made this past week.  I needed a birthday card for my person.  You know that friend who really gets you.  The one who would always welcome you and hug you even if you hadn't showered and smelled like you ate a loaf of garlic bread all by yourself.   That's my friend Brandi.   Unfortunately she lives in Maryland and I miss her so much.   She was my best friend in graduate school and I love her so much.  I keep hoping for something to happen so we can live close, but no luck yet.   Anyway...  I got this hilarious set from Taylored Expressions recently and I love it.  It makes me laugh so much!  It's called Birthday Grumplings and it's new my favorite set.  They just released a Halloween version and I want it so bad too!  It's so awesome!  Obviously you can't send these cards to everyone, but they are totally me and I think they will work for a lot of my friends.  :)

This is for Angie's Dare to Get Dirty challenge on Splitcoast.  

Laila and the cats are always wanting what the other one has or doing what the other one does.  Bandit got out of this bag and Laila decided she would climb in it.  lol  Never a dull moment around here!

Dare to Be Crazy

I decided to put together another card with the red and yellow papers that were left from my last card.  It's always nice to use up some supplies for more than one card.  I don't usually like making the same card more than once, so I rarely end up using the same stuff.  This worked out great though.   And seriously?!  These birds!  I love them.  This is for Susan's Dare to Get Dirty challenge.

Stamps:  Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, Taylored Expressions Birthday Grumplings
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, miscellaneous patterned paper
Ink:  MFT Black Licorice, Copics, Stampin' Up! Real Red
Embellishments:  MFT Red Hot buttons, Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry Baker's Twine