Apothecary Mashup

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the colors "Pacific Point, Marina Mist, Gumball Green, and Lucky Limeade".
2. Or Make a project using "Rectangles".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project with the "Color Combination and Rectangles".

Friday means a new challenge at The Friday Mashup!   I just love these challenges since they are always so different each week.   This week we have a color challenge paired with rectangles.  Fun, huh?   I'm not really sure that I truly mashed it up this week as my idea went straight to a particular stamp set and I couldn't get anything else to come to mind.  Maybe you can count the flag as a rectangle but that would be pushing it a bit.  :)

I had to pat myself on the back for actually using Apothecary Art.  I'm still scratching my head over that purchase. It's really not my style and I struggle to use it.   I think it looks okay here.  I colored in the flowers and leaves with the colors from the challenge and then used Pacific Point and Limeade on the rest of the card elements.   I think it turned out okay for using a set that I'm not normally comfortable with.  :)   

Stamps: Apothecary Art, Something to Celebrate

Ink:  Black Staz On, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade, Gumball Green

Paper:  Pacific Point, Whisper White, 2011-2013 In Color DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels collection framelits, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, blender pen, Basic Pearls

I bought Laila a new toy this week and she's not completely sure about it just yet.  :)   Wish me luck tonight as her dad and I are heading out for a date night.  She'll be in good hands with her aunt Crista, but I'm already a nervous wreck about leaving her even if it is just for dinner!   

Cup of Hope

Well, it's been one of those days today.  Laila is currently on outfit number four and two of my cats are quickly working their way to the pound.  (Not really, but I think we'll soon be those people who have pets that live in different parts of the house because they can't get along.)   During all this "fun", I did manage to make another card for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges.   This time I worked on Edna's challenge and here's what it was:  One of my all time favourite things is WORDS, and they mean so much to so many, especially in times of encouragement and hope. My challenge is to use five individual words on a card. You are welcome to include images, but the focus should be on the words, stamp them, punch them, cut them out of magazines... the choice is yours!   

Now that I look at it, I think I did it wrong.  :(   I used a five word sentiment.  Oh well, it's still another card to send to MD Anderson, right?!   Now you'll have to forgive me for using a non-SU stamp, but I have a bit of a thing for coffee and cat stamps.  It's not really what I envisioned when I started, but it'll do I suppose.  Considering how this day has been, I'm surprised I made anything!  (Thanks to my friend Marla for suggestion the steam!)   

Stamps:  Like It a Latte (retired), Scentsational Season, coffee cup stamp
Ink:  Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso, Pretty In Pink, Subtles DSP stack
Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Finishing Touches edgelits, Wide Oval punch, Fancy Fan Embossing Folder, Holiday Collection framelits

Here was Laila's first outfit today.  :)   We decided it was a bit too warm for her after a while.   

Rays of Gray

Laila and I worked on another card for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges today.   Well, I worked on it and she played I guess.   She also rolled over from tummy to back THREE TIMES when we did tummy time after!   It's amazing to see her hitting those milestones.  Eli's disease never allowed him to do that so it's all new to us.   Anyway, back to the card...   This challenge was from Beate and here's the description:  Finding out that you,a family member or friend has cancer is such a shock. You don't know what to say, you are angry, frustrated, sad.....the world turns gray. But there is always hope and lot of times, the cancer does not win. To show that hope in your cards, create a project (or color an image) mostly in gray tones, but at one splash of color.

Her challenge title was Rays of Hope and got me thinking about another Starburst card.  I thought it might give a bit of interest to all the gray.  As I was looking for a stamp set, I found my Strength & Hope one and thought it was perfect for this card drive!   I'm really loving the cards I'm making for these challenges and I hope they find their way to someone who will love them.   

Stamps:  Strength & Hope(retired)

Ink:  Basic Gray, Melon Mambo

Paper:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Neutrals DSP stack

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Pennants die, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, 2 1/2 circle punch, Basic Pearls, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon (retired)

This was our dress rehearsal before her three month pictures.  :)  

FMS55: Gently Falling

It's Wednesday and time for a new Freshly Made Sketch!   Jen M is the sketch designer this week and gave us this fun one to work with.   There's so much you can do with it!  I think it's fun to work with sketches like this because the possibilities are endless.  You can see that just by checking out the design team's cards this week!  

For my card I chose to flip it AND make it a non-square card.   We finally got a little non-summer weather here in Texas, so I pulled out some fall stamps and colors and put together this beauty.  I just love that woodgrain folder!  I hesitated to buy it at first but now that I have it and have used it, I love it!   

Stamps:  Gently Falling

Ink:  More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso

Paper:  Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain embossing folder, Regals Buttons, Early Espresso Baker's Twine

Here's another shot from Laila's 3 month photo shoot last week.  :)  She hates being on her tummy, so the photographer must have snapped this one before she realized what had happened!  

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?   

Hopeful Leaf

Tonight I sat down to work on a card for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges at Splitcoast Stampers.  I love that they are posting a new challenge each day this month and then having us send the cards we make to the MD Anderson Cancer Center.  That's here in Houston, so of course I want to do as many of the challenges as I can!  Jason's mom received some care there before she passed away so we are very familiar with them and the good work that they do.  

Do you remember this sketch?  I used it for my FMS one year celebration card a few weeks ago.  I remember when I first saw it originally on the blog.  My first thought was 'man, I'm glad I'm on a break so that I don't have to do THAT one'.   :)   Now it's kind of my favorite sketch...  Funny how things change, right?   

Here's my card for the first challenge that was presented by Lydia.  We were asked to make a card that reflects us and our stamping style.  I have no clue how I'd define my style, so I tried to think of a few elements that I enjoy putting on my cards.  I love mixing embossing folders to give a card several different texture elements.   I also love using nontraditional colors for my stamps.   Finally, I like a nice clean card.  I do some sponging and distressing sometimes, but I prefer them to be clean.   Here's what I ended up with once I put it all together.  :)   I even used my favorite DSP, Spice Cake.  

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Falling Leaves (retired)

Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Soft Suede

Paper:  Soft Suede, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Spice Cake DSP (retired and hoarded)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain  and Stripes embossing folders, Neutrals buttons, Pool Party Baker's Twine

I went shopping yesterday and came home to find Laila in this cute outfit.   It was one of the first ones I bought for her and I love it.  Her daddy did a great job getting her all cute and ready to watch football.  :)

Fabulous Feline Friday

     

I finally found time to stamp today just for fun!  Normally I'm working on cards for my design team or club, so it was a nice break just to do whatever I wanted.  I had two challenges that I wanted to play along with, Fab Friday and Black Tie Friday.  I'm a few days late, but since I watch Laila most of the day Thursday through Saturday, it never works out to stamp very much until Sunday.  

I pulled out lots of circles for this one!   I used a couple of Halloween designer papers, one current and one retired, a circle for my image, and circles for my sentiment.  Lots and lots of circles.  :)   I think it works well with one of my favorites, Frightening Feline.   I have been in a slump where I don't like my cards, but I think this one is actually okay.   Maybe my mojo will return soon!  

Stamps:  Frightening Feline, Wicked Cool

Ink: Staz On black

Paper:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP, Wicked Fun DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Circle dies and punches, Color Spritzing tool, retired Black Rhinestone flourish 

Since it's football Sunday, I just had to share my little Packer's fan.  :)   We are Texans fans first, but I just love Aaron Rodgers.

FM78: Gently Falling Leaves

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a "Fall Leaves" themed project.
2. Or Make a project with "Twine".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Fall Leaves Themed project using Twine". 

Isn't this an awesome challenge?   I LOVE Fall and am so happy that it's here.   Well, not really in Texas but I can pretend, right? :)   Lisa, who likes to tease me about their MUCH cooler weather, has presented this fun fall challenge at The Friday Mashup to use fall leaves and/or twine on our cards.   Awesome, right?!  They are two of my favorite things to use on cards so I just loved this challenge!

What do you think?   I have to say, I sort of love it.   The Natural Composition DSP sponged with Early Espresso is my favorite part of the card for sure.  (and just FYI, if you sponge this particular sheet with Cajun Craze, it looks like bacon.   I'll try to post a picture of that fun mistake for you on a another post)  I love the leaves and the button tied with twine too.  Just a fun card and one I really enjoyed making.  I think Gently Falling is one of the best Stampin' Up! sets ever.   

Stamps:  Gently Falling, Day of Gratitude, French Foliage

Ink: Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake

Paper:  Early Espresso, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Natural Composition DSP, Autumn Spice DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Corner Rounder punch, Regals buttons, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, paper snips, sponges

And speaking of Fall, you know what that means...

Halloween costumes!  This was one of Laila's pictures from her 3 month photo shoot.  Can you believe she turned  3 months yesterday???  Time is just flying by....