Happy Birthday, Pumpkin

I have been working hard trying to clean and purge my stamp room this week, but I finally decided to stamp in the middle of the madness.  :)   I wanted to play along with the new Wednesday challenge at Simon Says Stamp and the Colour Me challenge.    I'm always up for any excuse to use the Pumpkin Pie satin ribbon.  It is so gorgeous!  

I added a little sparkle to the "you" with my new Wink of Stella pen.   The splotches were made with a paintbrush and gesso colored with a bit of reinker.  

 Nutella mustache! :-)  

Topsy-Turvy Color Celebration

  

I attempted to stamp again tonight to try to help get myself back in the creating mode.  My mojo and creativity are kinda still in the crapper, but I figure if I stamp enough maybe they'll improve.  One can only hope, right?   Anyway, I played along with two of my favorite challenges, the Paper Players and the Friday Mashup.

I love Island Indigo and Rich Razzleberry, so I decided to combine some favorite colors with a stamp set that I love just as much.   I'm a huge fan of cakes, both looking at them and eating them, so Topsy-Turvy Celebration was one of the first sets I bought last year from the new catalog.  I'm not sure other people love it quite as much, so I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't hit the retirement list that's coming out soon.  

Stamps:  Topsy-Turvy Celebration

Ink: Island Indigo, Baja Breeze (sad face), Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Brights DSP stack, Island Indigo DSP scrap 

Accessories:  Brights buttons, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Basic Rhinestones

Tools:  Scallop Border Punch, Paper Snips

We went to our local arboretum today and walked around for a bit.  It's was such a gorgeous day here.  I think we are going to be enjoying a few days in the mid to high 80's this week before some storms and cooler weather hit.   I'm not sure what else we'll find to do, but I hope we get to enjoy it! 

Birthday Bash 2013

Don't you hate it when you need a birthday card at the last minute and can't find one in your card stash?   In this class we'll be making a variety of birthday cards so that you'll have some on hand.   If you have plenty of birthday cards already, some of the designs can also be made into thank you cards.   Just be sure to let me know you'd like some different sentiments and I'll put out some stamp sets for you to choose from.

This class is a bit different than my previous ones in that you can make as many or as few of each card as you want.   There is a minimum of 10 cards to attend the event, but you are welcome to make more if you'd like.   Please email me by noon on Friday which cards you'd like to make and how many of each so that I can get your packet ready for you.  

Cost is $20 for the first 10 cards, $2 for each additional card.  

Here are the choices:

Card #1:  Birthday Circles

Card #2: Birthday Leaves

Card #3:  Birthday Butterflies

Card #4:  Shabby Birthday

 Card #5:  Birthday Cheers

FMS58: Topsy-Turvy Cake

Time for a new Freshly Made Sketch!   This one comes from one of our fabulous guest designers, Narelle.   I have been struggling with my mojo for over a week now, so I was pretty last minute getting my card made for this one.   I did manage to combine it with a HYCCT challenge!   Cindy asked us to make a pink birthday card inspired by some pictures that she shared.  I chose this one and focused on the colors. 

My Topsy-Turvy Celebration set has been neglected lately, so I thought it might be a fun one to pull out for a cute birthday card.  

The more I look at this, the more I kinda like it.  :)   It's been a while since I could say that actually.   I did change up the banners a bit.  I thought they might look fun all mixed up like my topsy-turvy cake!  I hope it will bring joy to someone's day just like this little girl brings joy to mine.  

FMS42: Topsy-Turvy Cake

Last night I started working on a card to play along with my buddies at Freshly Made Sketches.  I finished it this morning, but when I went to stamp the back of it with my personalized stamp, I smudged the Dazzling Details I'd put on the candles.  :(   So...I had to redo the image panel again!   A bit frustrating to say the least.  I used a different sentiment the second time around and I don't like it as much as the first.   I gave up though and decided it is what it is.   I'm just happy to have found some creative time!  

I used my favorite new color combination again.  It is just perfect for masculine/boy cards that are bright and fun!    I think this stamp set is my favorite from the new catalog so far. :)    

I have to share Miss Laila a bit before I go.  :)  I love this onesie but I doubt it is going to fit anymore.  She is almost out of the newborn sizes!  

Sweet Sunday Mashup Cake

  
Last night I figured out around bedtime that I didn't have any clean pants to wear to the doctor today.  Last minute washing meant I had to stay up and wait to dry them, so I decided to stamp a bit while I waited.   I wanted to play along with my buddies over at The Friday Mashup so I used the colors from the latest challenge along with the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge.   I thought they would work well together for my new favorite stamp set, Topsy-Turvy Celebration!  

I wish I'd embossed the Daffodil Delight DSP, but it takes me a while to get out of my chair these days.    I am thankful to have a hobby that I can sit down and lose myself in though.   This last month of pregnancy has been difficult and to have a distraction has been amazing!    I thought I wouldn't feel like creating anything but have really hit a nice streak of mojo.   I am sure that will end next week when Laila arrives, but I'm trying to enjoy it until then.   :)  

Stamps:  Topsy-Turvy Celebration

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Brights DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Brights buttons, Basic Rhinestones, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Dazzling Details

FMS39 and Laila Update!

The UPS man showed up yesterday...well, last night at 7:30pm!...with a box of goodies for me and my club ladies.   I was impatiently waiting for him as I really wanted to play with some new stamps!    I was a good girl and made thank you notes for my orders (see below) before I pulled out some new inks, paper, and stamp set to play.   Insomnia paid off last night as I was piecing together my cake around 1am!  I used the great sketch from Freshly Made Sketches this week as the guide for my card.   

I just adore funky cakes, so Topsy-Turvy Celebration was one of the new stamp sets that I was really drawn to in the new catalog.   It is just so whimsical and FUN!  I also used another product I was looking forward to, the Polka Dot Parade DSP.   I'm a big fan of bright colors and that paper has plenty of them!  The Color Coach had me pairing up 2 of the new in colors with an old favorite for this one:  Marina Mist, Midnight Muse, and Gumball Green.   Don't they look great together?   I think it might be my new favorite color combination!   

Stamps:   Topsy-Turvy Celebration, A Little Birthday Cheer (retired)

Ink:  Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Marina Mist

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Marina Mist, Gumball Green, Whisper White, Polka Dot Parade DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop Circles #2 die (retired) 3-inch circle die

Here's a quick picture of the little thank you notes I whipped up last night.   They use two new sets, Summer Silhouettes and Papillon Potpourri, along with the Elegant Butterfly punch.    Nothing fancy, but I like my customers to know I do appreciate them.   

Finally, an update on Laila.   My blood pressure was still up at my doctor's appointment on Monday but no other signs of pre-eclampsia.   I do keep adding in lots of new issues and am even having a bit of trouble walking around now because of all the pressure she's putting on my lower body.    My doctor took pity on me and she is now scheduled to arrive on June 27th at 3pm.   11 more days!!!!!   We are excited, scared, happy, nervous...just a mess of emotions.    This pregnancy has been a rough one for me as the physical issues have caused some mental stress, but I know in the end it will all be worth it.   I can't wait to meet our little girl!