I'm on a roll!

I finished up my third digital page this morning!  It's really becoming super fun for me.   I pinned a bunch of scrapbook sketches yesterday and am finding them fun to do.  It's a bit like all the challenges that I'm addicted to.  This page is loosely based on this layout.  I am still using the free trial of the program, but I'm totally putting the upgrade to MDS2 on my next order.  It is AWESOME!  I love recoloring the stamps!  I need to visit the SU YouTube page and watch the videos so that I can learn more tips and tricks.   I am more of a click and see what it does kinda girl, but I need to expand my horizons and learn from others.  :)   

I'll try to make a card this weekend so that you aren't missing that part of my sharing too much. Ha!  I've been working on some cards for my design teams since I hope to go back to them soon.   I almost have all the cards made for September for Friday Mashup and will be starting some for Freshly Made Sketches soon.  Busy, busy, busy!   

Laila's 2nd MDS Page

Okay...being honest here, I suck at scrapbooking.  I actually started paper crafting by scapping my wedding photos, but once I discovered card making I totally quit trying to do scrapbook pages.  I had good intentions of doing a book for Eli but with him being sick it just didn't happen.  I want to do better for Laila, but I know myself and I know I'm not going to do a paper version.   That leaves digital and well, I haven't used MDS as much as I should have to know all the features and tricks.  I can get by, but I'm a novice for sure!   To remedy that, I decided I'd try.   I'm totally intimated with scrapbooking and never know where to start.  My friend Mindy has a Pinterest board with lots of page maps, so I went there today and found this one from  Sketchy Thursdays.  I still wasn't sure about it, but I figured I'd give it a go...

It's not perfect, but I made it all by myself!   I'm a bit proud of it because I normally won't attempt things that I think I'm bad at.  :)   I stuck with the colors and size from yesterday's page in hopes that I might end up with enough pages to make a book!   I'd love to have something to print for both us and my parents for Christmas.   

So anyway, yay me.   I swear if I can do it, you can do it!   Go download that free trial and give it a shot!

Laila MDS style!

I just downloaded the trial version of MDS2 and have been playing around with it. I found this really cute template and I love how easy it was to just drag and drop my picture and add text.   I can totally scrapbook when it's THAT easy.  :)  If you think you'd like to know more about it, you can try it out free for 30 days to see if it would work for you!   Just go to my website, click on shop, look for MDS2 free trial, and download it to your computer.  Stampin' Up! even has a ton of new training videos to help us learn how to use it too!  

Many Mini Trees

I really wanted to find time to play along with my ladies over at Freshly Made Sketches last week but time just got away from me and I didn't get my card made in time.  I had the idea for one in my head so I sat down last night to make it anyway.  :)    

White space tends to stress me out, but I'm trying to learn to embrace it and use it like any other color.  I think I actually like this one!  The embossing distracts me and I forget that it's SO white!  :)   I used the fun new Merry Minis punch pack that I received as a gift from my sweet friend Mindy.   They are just adorable!   I'm not sure I love the sentiment on the banner, but I wasn't sure what else to do with it.  Any ideas?

Stamps:  Bright Hopes (retired)

Ink:  Real Red

Paper:  Whisper White, Lucky Limeade

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Lace Brocade embossing folder, Merry Minis punch pack

Here's another image from Laila's Hope Calendar photo shoot.  I just love how peaceful and sweet she looks!

Halloween Club Card

Now that school has started back up, my hostess club will also be resuming soon!  We have 2 more months to go before the current round is over.  I have to start thinking about what I want my business to be after that and how to balance my love of stamping with others with my new role as mommy.   It's tough, huh? I'm in awe of those of you who have been doing it all for a while.  :)   Anyway, for our September technique I decided to do the starburst technique.  It's such a cool look and I thought it would be neat in black and tangerine.  I dirtied it up a bit with some sponging and spritzing and added some shiny rhinestone cat eyes.  Spooky or cute?  Maybe a bit of both!

Stamps:  Frightening Feline, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray (sponging)

Paper:  Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Brights and Neutrals DSP stacks

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, 3inch circle die, Spider Web embossing folder, Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, sponges, Color Spritzer tool, Basic Black 1/8 taffeta ribbon, paper trimmer, basic rhinestones

My little one turned two months old today.   How did that happen?!   We started a new medicine for reflux today to see how that would go.   She's really been a good baby lately other than some fussy crying at feeding/burping time.  Lately there's been so many smiles!  It's amazing and wonderful.  I never thought we'd get sweet baby smiles again and am so thankful for them.

Christmas Pennant Trees

I thought I'd share one of the cards I originally designed for my Christmas card class.   After looking at it a few times, I decided that it was really too much work for a quick, simple class.  It's still flat and easily mailable, but a bit too detailed to make a lot of at once.   I love the mix of greens and the little scene it creates though!

Stamps:  Pennant Parade, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Early Espresso
Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, Whisper White, Gumball Green, Brights and 2011-2013 In Color DSP stacks
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Vintage Wall Paper Embossing Folder, Petite Pennant Builder punch

Here's a picture from Laila's photo shoot for the Hope Calendar:

She's been doing some better, but we did have a pretty rough midday yesterday.  I finally swaddled her in the evening and she napped great.   I think she was just cranky from not sleeping much in the morning.   Those arms just move so much and wake her up so she must be wrapped up to sleep well.   I did call the doctor today about her progress with the Zantac medicine.  She seems to have more stuff coming back up and is now spitting up some.  Feedings are not always that great either, so maybe we need to make more changes...I guess we'll see.   I hate feeling so clueless!  I just want my baby to feel good.  

CAS Paper Players

Clean and simple is an idea I continue to work on, so I thought I'd play along with this fun challenge from Anne Marie at The Paper Players.   I combined it with the CAS challenge today from Splitcoast which is to be inspired by the word school.   Now what I was thinking (and I am going to say I wasn't) picking the image I did, I do not know. Talk about some seriously fussy fussy cutting!  Yikes!    I already struggle with my scissor skills on a normal day, so this was most definitely a challenge.

People always seem to get paper piecing and paper piercing mixed up.  I actually did both on this one, but the piecing happens on the dress, bow, shirt, boy socks, and books.   Those tiny little spaces were awful to cut out let me tell ya!   I kept losing them my desk and was happy when I finally got them all glued down.  I love this color combination so much!  I think my current three favorite SU colors are represented.  :)

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids, Thank You Kindly (retired)

Ink:  Staz On, Rich Razzleberry plus Crumb Cake, Blush Blossom, and Daffodil Delight markers

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Brights and In Color DSP stacks, Cottage Wall DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Festive Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Snips

One of my favorite pictures from her 1 month photo shoot.  It's hard to believe that she'll be 2 months old next week.  The days are just flying by!  

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.   :)