Polar Bear Warmth

Who doesn't love a polar bear in a pink sweater?  :)   I loved the colors at colourQ this week and thought they'd be fun with the sketch at MFT's Card Challenges.   I love that I can make this into a Christmas card or a just because I like you card.  Those bears are great for lots of occasions!

   
I hope you have a great week!   Can you believe we are getting so close to the holidays?  It doesn't seem like it should be so late in the year!

Love You Sew!

Sorry for posting again today.   I just realized the deadline for colourQ was tonight and I wanted to get my card entered.  I haven't played along there in a while and am happy that I actually did!   This one is also for the Paper Smooches SPARKS Designer Drafts challenge.   I love this cute set for making cards for Mom.  I need to get another sewing set or quilting set so I can mix and match some stamps!  :)

Stamps: Paper Smooches Needle Little Love
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, SU Daffodil Delight
Ink:  Memento Black, Copics
Others:  SU Doilies, SU Brights Candy Dots

   

All of the rain is making our butterfly garden very happy!  :)

Stampin' Up! Blue Ribbon

How about a bit of a manly card today?!   I used the fun colors from colourQ along with another Dare to Get Dirty challenge to make this one.  I love this club ribbon set and just don't use it nearly enough!  I paired it with Gorgeous Grunge to add some fun distressing.

Aren't those fun colors?   Now I am NOT a Summer Yuckfruit fan and don't own any, but the new honey in color was a nice substitute.  

She needed to wear a towel just like mommy.  lol   We had a nice day yesterday.   I braved Target with her and we bought 3 bags of school supplies to donate to our local assistance ministry.   I love school suppplies, so it was such a treat to get to shop for them.

Stampin' Up! Starburst Sayings

I had a little time last night to play along with a couple challenges.  This card uses the awesome sketch from MFT along with the fun colors at colourQ this week.  It's a bit of a different card for me, but I love it!  It's good to work outside our comfort zone sometimes.  :)

   

I love Lucky Limeade, but I'm not sure I've used it since it retired.  Sad!  I was happy to put it out and to search for a sheet of Going Gray.   I started to use Smoky Slate, but I really love the darker color and especially the textured paper!

Laila is an expert at spotting airplanes!   :)   She can also spot the moon as soon as it peeks out.  It's been some beautiful, yet windy weather here this week.  We've been out playing quite a bit.

Stampin' Up! Geometrical Love

I've had this poor card on my desk for a while now and finally finished it up before I climbed in bed tonight.  We always hop in bed early to watch a show or two once Laila's in bed, so I never seem to get any stamping done after the middle of the day.  This card using the fun sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday with the colors from colourQ.   I didn't have Poppy Parade, so I subbed in Calypso Coral.  It looks like everyone else went with Real Red for a current color, so oops!  Hopefully mine still counts.  Sorry, guys! 

  

• Arrows Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Calypso Coral Baker's Twine
• Designer Buttons - Neutrals Collection(retired)
• Geometrical [wood]
• This And That Epic Day Designer Series Paper
• Basic Gray 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Island Indigo 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Pool Party 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Small Heart Punch

She is so silly.   We had our first trip to the dentist today.   Taking an 18 month old is such a waste.  $118 and all they did was brush her teeth and look at them for like a minute!   We won't be going back for a while.  That's just crazy!   She did great though, so maybe taking her will make her not be afraid like I am.  

Stampin' Up! Fox & Friends

It's been a tough mommy day today, so after my nap was spoiled by the cats I decided to go try stamping something.   Laila took a nice long nap so I was able to finish a card.  :)  I haven't stamped just for fun in ages!  I played along with the colors at colourQ and the theme at The Paper Players.  

   

I used some of the stack of retired DSP that my former demo had given me ages ago along with some of the awesome Core'dinations cardstock.  I just had to use my fox stamp from Fox & Friends.  He's so popular right now, huh?! 

My mom had my uncle fix up my old rocking chair that my papaw had given me when I was little.  It is so neat to see Laila sitting in it.  :)   She started climbing on the furniture today and oh my heavens am I a nervous wreck!   She needs a helmet and bubble wrap! 

Halloween? Oh Yeah!

My last workshop order came in this week and I had ordered myself a little treat, the square framelits.  I love the Polaroid look that I've been seeing and wanted to try my hand at it!   I thought the sketch at Fab Friday was just perfect for that.   The colors at colourQ caught my eye right before I went in my room to work, so I ended up combining the two for my card.   I know I've seen a few comments about my mojo appearing to be intact, but if you'd been here to see the level of frustration and upset that comes with most of my cards lately, you'd get it.  This one wasn't like that, so maybe I've crossed a hurdle!  It came together easily and I ENJOYED making it.  Nice change for sure.  

     

Stamps:  Toxic Treats (R), Wicked Cool (R)

Ink:  Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Gumball Green

Paper:  Basic Black, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Brights DSP stack (R), Modern Medley DSP, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Halloween Baker's Twine 

Tools:  Big Shot, Spider Web embossing folder (R), Little Leaves sizzlit, square framelits, Scallop Trim border punch

We were very sad to say goodbye to Mom today.  I'm sure you can tell she was just as sad to be leaving her grandbaby.   I hope to see her and my dad later this year.  Thank goodness we have Skype to keep us in contact until then.  

If you are looking for my Freshly Made Sketches post for today, scroll down or click here.

colourQ Hearts

I love the colourQ colors this week and wanted to find time to play.  Luckily Laila let me stamp some yesterday so I was able to make a quick card for it.  I started off with the idea of lots of white (well, vanilla) space, but I'm not sure what happened? 

It's still a pretty simple card, just a bit more layers and darker than I had planned.   I think my love affair with Early Espresso just took over and the vanilla got tossed aside.   The heart wants what it wants, right?  lol I've been struggling to use my new Hearts a Flutter bundle, but I think it worked okay on this one.   I LOVE the chevron heart stamp.   Obsessed?   Yeah, a bit.  

Laila decided that peas would make a great facial yesterday.  She is so silly!  We had another rough evening, but Tylenol seemed to help last night as she slept from 7 until 5:30 this morning.  This teething thing is rough on everybody.  It breaks my heart for her to be upset and hurting.  

colourQ with Fab Friday!

     

I stamped more today and actually completed two cards!  Maybe the Mayans were off a bit and today is actually the day the world will end?!   We'll see I guess...there's a few more hours left.  ;)   For my second card I combined these fun challenges from Fab Friday and colourQ.  

When I first sat down to work on this I almost didn't pick that set of colors from colourQ.  Is it just me or is Certainly Celery bright?!   I sure miss my Pear Pizzazz.  Blushing Bride too!  I need to pull those guys out and use them since I was determined I wouldn't quit just because they were retired.  If you haven't already noticed, I LOVE mixing embossing folders on my cards and I managed to get in 4 of them on this one.  I don't know what it is, but I always feel compelled to use a bunch of them.   Do you do that too?   It might end up being too much sometimes, but that doesn't seem to stop me!   

Look at her being a big girl and sitting up playing.  One day she couldn't do it and then bam! she was an old pro at it.   It's just so amazing, but so crazy how fast she keeps learning things and growing up!

Hopeful Monkey

I got up before everyone else today, so I took that time to do a bit of stamping.  I feel very inspired by the Hope You Can Cling To challenges, so I wanted to do another one.  I completed the second one hosted by Lori that involves making a card for a child.  Here's the description of her challenge:  Make a card or two for the kiddos! These could be for a child who is called to stand strong much to early by fighting or a child that needs a little extra lovin' while mom or dad focuses on getting well.   I combined it with the fun colors from colourQ this week.  

Yes, it's SOCK MONKEY!!  :)  I know he, or in this case she, has few fans, but I love it.  I thought it would be fun to paper piece her to add a bit of fun.   Hopefully there's a little girl somewhere that will like her and not be frightened.  lol   My card was inspired by this gorgeous one from Tessa.  

Stamps:  Sock Monkey (retired)

Ink:  Basic Gray

Paper:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Neutrals and Brights DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Chevron embossing folder, heart punch

I couldn't remember if I'd shared this picture of Laila, but it's one of my favorites.  Doesn't it look like she's holding that giraffe like a baby?   

ColourQ with a Sketch

    
I actually found some stamping time today!   Laila took a nice nap in the middle of the day and I took the opportunity to sneak in my craft room while she was snoozing away.  :)   I combined a couple of challenges, the bright, fun colors of colourQ with the fun sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.

This was my first time playing with the jar stamp from Perfectly Preserved.  It is such a cute set and I have been wanting to ink it up ever since I got it last week.   I'm not sure that I love my design, but I did have fun playing.   I am really struggling with creativity lately, but I keep hoping for it to return.  Jason keeps telling me it's the lack of sleep causing it.  :)  

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Poppy Parade
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Perfect Polka Dots DSP
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Collection framelits, Cannery framelits, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Word Window Punch, Whisper White 3/8 taffeta ribbon, Island Indigo baker's twine, In Color Polka Dot brads

Playing on her mat yesterday.   The Zantac seems to be helping with her fussiness, so I'm so thankful that I trusted myself and made the trip to the doctor.   :)

Happy Tuesday!

    
Since I'm still being a lazy pregnant lady, I used my leisure time to stamp again today.  :)    I did manage to fit a bit of laundry in there too, so at least I feel a bit productive.   Growing a baby is hard work though, right?!   I decided to combine two fun challenges today, the awesome sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday with the awesome colors from colourQ.   While I did order a few more new stamp sets, right now I'm enjoying the two I do have.  So...it's Happy Hour again today!

Don't you just love this stamp set?   It's just so fun and perfect for summer cards!  I added a few more new goodies to this card too, the Finishing Touches Edgelits and the Chevron embossing folder.   I think it turned out great considering I struggled a bit with all the layers.  Cheers!

Stamps:  Happy Hour

Ink:  Bashful Blue, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Lucky Limeade

Paper:  Marina Mist, Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Night of Navy DSP (misc. retired), 2011-2013 In Color DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Chevron Embossing Folder, Basic Rhinestones, Regals buttons, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine

cQc140: Cheers!

colourQ is one of my favorite challenge blogs because for me it is just that, a challenge!   It always inspires me to try to use more than a couple of colors and a more clean-and-simple approach.  This week's challenge has some of my favorite colors, but I would never have thought to put them together!  

Forgive the bad picture; I guess photography at 7am is not my forte.   :)    I got a new box of goodies from Stampin' Up! last night and was so excited to use my new Happy Hour set!   I don't like alcohol, but I love these fun glasses with all their accessories.  As a bonus, there are great sentiments to go along with them!    Thanks to my great customers, I was able to earn this set for free and I'm very thankful as the baby budget makes the stamping budget almost non-existent.   Totally worth the trade-off of course.  :)

Stamps:  Happy Hour

Ink:  Island Indigo, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Lucky Limeade

Paper:  Island Indigo, Real Red, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:   Simply Scored, Basic Rhinestones, Stamp-a-ma-jig

colourQ coffee

Isn't this an awesome color combination?   I was so excited when I saw the colourQ challenge today.   I didn't know what I was going to make with it, but just pulling the colors together and looking at them made me happy.   :)

I know what you're thinking....am I on the right blog?   Yes, you are and yes, that's a non-SU stamp.   I had a doctor's appointment today and like the last few appointments, my blood pressure was high.  I have to get tested for pre-eclampsia AGAIN.   I was so bummed and crying, so Jason took me for a bit of retail therapy.  This was all I got for me, so I wasn't too bad.   I miss my Starbucks so much right now (Laila seems to hate everything I try from there), so I think that's why I wanted this darn cup so much.    It's huge though, so it will take some work to use it.    I wanted to play with it tonight because I'm still pretty crabby.  That might be why it took me forever to make this!    Here's the other part of my shopping, Laila's coming home outfit:

colourQ meets Paper Players!

 
Well, after waking up at 4am this morning, I decided I should try to go stamp for a bit. I actually finished 3 cards and had a nice time stamping just for fun.   With pregnancy, two design teams, and club/class cards, I don't often find time to do challenges or make a card just because I feel like it.   I definitely need to get back to that; it was relaxing and just plain old fun today!   My first card combines two challenges, the gorgeous colors of colourQ and the fun polka dots of the Paper Players.

I hope a different fold will still count as clean-and-simple.  I kept it pretty simple other than that I think?    I really LOVE this color combination.   I'll definitely have to add that picture to my color inspiration board on Pinterest; I want to sure it again for sure!   I used a retired hostess set that I LOVE along with Fabulous Phrases.   I'm a bit bummed that the Scallop Circle #2 die is retiring as I use it a lot, but I'll hang on to it and sneak it in every now and then.  :) 

Stamps:  Love & Care, Fabulous Phrases

Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder

Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Scallop Circles #2 die, 3-inch circle die, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon