Mashuped Up Ornament

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with a "Christmas Ornament".
2. Or Make a project with some "Sparkle".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Christmas Project with some Sparkle".

Amanda has a fun challenge at the Friday Mashup this week.   With October over halfway gone, it's time to get serious about those Christmas cards and this challenge is perfect to get started.   I am embarrassed to say that I had not inked up my Ornament Keepsakes bundle, so I just had to pull it out for this challenge!   I combined it with Bev's HYCCT challenge and here's the description for it:  Make a card (or project) using lots of sparkle. You know how much glitter you usually use (a little spot here or there)? Double it! Triple it. Shimmer and shake it, baby! We want to see your sparkle! 

I really loved Erna's card last week for my sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, so I inspired to try the sketch and ornament for myself.  I don't know why, but I was in a one color mode the day I put this one together.   I do love Island Indigo, so it was an easy choice.  The sparkle isn't showing up in my picture, but the ornament is embossed in Iridescent Ice embossing powder and there's some homemade shimmer mist on the Very Vanilla background.  It's pretty sparkly in real life, trust me!  :)

LOL  This was the end of the pumpkin patch for the day!  

Vintage bird for HYCCT

Laila went to bed at seven last night, so I had some time to stamp and watch a little TV before bed.  I wasn't sure how the night would go with her crashing so early, but she was only up at three to eat and then back down until eight this morning!  She woke up smiling and happy too!   Anyway, I worked on another HYCCT challenge from Bridget.  We were to be inspired by this this verse from Emily Dickinson:  

Hope is the thing with feathers 

that perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops at all.

Thing with feathers = bird, sings the tune = music paper.  That works, right?  :)

Stamps:  Nature Walk, French Foliage

Ink:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede

Paper:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Natural Composition DSP

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Framed Tulips embossing folder, sponges, Very Vanilla seam binding, Neutrals buttons

This was my first time making a "shabby bow" based on my friend LeAnne's tutorial.   I just needed a small one, but it still worked!  Yay!

What are these things? 

Ship Wreckage :)

Whew!  Have you ever worked on a challenge that just refused to come together for you?  I can usually get them, but this HYYCT challenge from Jeanne S. has just kicked my butt. Here's her description:  The greatest thing when dealing with an illness is the hope that you or your loved one will be feeling "ship shape" again soon. My challenge to you is make a shaped card - no circle, rectangle or square cards.    I am not sure what number attempt this one is, but man!   I was about to give up and just not do that one, but I really wanted to finish them all.   I've set a goal to complete ALL of them, so I had to keep trucking.   This one is at least passable I think so I'm going to use it.   It was hard to make and ever harder to photograph!   Anyway, I got it I hope.  

I will say that cutting through 2 layers of card stock with your framelits is not recommended and does void the warranty.   If you try it, it is at your own risk.  Scary, but I like to walk on the wild side sometimes.  Ha!  

Stamps:  Stampabilities Pink Ribbon, En Francais

Ink: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette, Versamark

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels framelits, Festive Piercing Pack, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, sponges, Heat Tool, Iridescent Ice embossing powder 

Jason mailed off my first box of cards to the cancer center today.  It is only about 40 minutes or so from us, so it should arrive fairly quickly.   I admit that I cried a little putting them in the box.  I put a lot of love into them and feel so good about doing something so worthwhile.   That's why we stamp, right?   To make us and others feel good?  :)   

Before Laila was born I said no bows.  Uh huh.   That's working out great as you can see.  

If you are looking for my Freshly Made Sketches post, click here.

FMS57: LeAnne's Sketch

Today at Freshly Made Sketches one of our fabulous guest designers for the month, LeAnne, created the sketch.   Isn't it fabulous?  So versatile and good for any type of occasion.  Since we are so close to Halloween, I decided to focus on that for my card, plus I needed a card for another Hope You Can Cling To challenge.  This challenge was from Judy and here's her description:  My challenge to you is a reminder! Get 'em mashed, squooshed, photographed, x-rayed, and checked! And to that end, we will be sharing creations inspired by "The Monster Mash"!

I don't have the super fun Ghoulish Googlies, but I was able to bum it from my sweet downline Shannon to make this card.   I thought lil' Frankie was perfect for the Monster Mash theme.   I did switch the image side for my card, but that's the fun of sketch challenges, right?!  

Stamps:  Ghoulish Googlies, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Staz On Black, Pear Pizzazz marker

Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Whisper White, Wicked Fun DSP (retired)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Pennants die, Chevron embossing folder, 2 1/2 circle punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Basic Black 1/4 grosgrain ribbon (retired)

Here's our little family at the local pumpkin patch yesterday.   I'll have more of Laila to share in the next week or so.  I'm not sure she knew what was going on poor dear.  It was pretty warm here, so I'm hoping it will cool off a bit so that we can go again.  

Serenity Now!

I'm still trying to catch up on my Hope You Can Cling To cards.  Making a card a day is tough for me, but I'm trying my best!    I am glad we have the first week in November to play catch-up.  I can already see that I'm going to need it.  Today's card is a challenge by Jennifer, a breast cancer survivor.  Here's her description:  So my challenge for you is to create a card that evokes peace, calm, and serenity with a touch (or splash!) of pink. no pressures, no requirements other than to just enjoy, embrace, and have fun while you are making it! Don't forget you can play along too!   A discussion with all the challenges can be found here.

I started off in a different direction, but it didn't work out and I decided to try again with the clear block background.  My first one looked amazing and then I dropped an inked stamp on it.  I figure that goes along with the rest of my day where I went grocery shopping with no purse, somehow double loaded my Starbucks card, and left the grocery store without buying any meat for our dinners this week.   It's definitely one of THOSE days.  Yuck.   Anyway, I I like how this turned out once I finally got it together.   I think it evokes serenity.  It does to me after my day.  :)

Stamps:  Just Believe, Petite Pairs

Ink:  Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso

Paper:  Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso, Whisper White

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings embosslit, clear block, Early Espresso stitched ribbon, Basic Pearls

Just playing a little dress-up for our trip to Target last week.  :)

HYCCT Green Foliage

After a rough few days, Jason was finally off today and I got a break to go stamp.   Laila was sure a challenge for me for the three days he was working, so I'm glad to have him here for a few days.  It's much easier when we can trade off parenting.  :)    I'm trying to catch up with the Hope You Can Cling To challenges so that I can mail off a package of cards to the MD Anderson Cancer Center this week.   The challenge I worked on today was from Dina and here's her description:  Make a card inspired by a show tune!  Any song (title or lyrics) from any musical or movie will do – just let us know what song inspired you!  For my card I picked a song from Little Shop of Horrors called Somewhere That's Green and made this monochromatic card.   I hope that will work!  :)

Stamps:  French Foliage, Just Believe

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Garden Green

Paper:  Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, scraps

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot, Woodgrain embossing folder, Scallop Oval punch, Medium Oval punch, Regals buttons, Linen Thread

It's still been pretty warm down here in Texas, so I've been trying to get her in the rest of her summer clothes before it's too cold for them.  This girl sure did get a lot of clothes!   

October Stamp Club

Last night was my monthly stamp club with my totally amazing group of ladies.  There's always so much fun and laughter and I love that they enjoy our meetings so much!   I thought I'd share our cards and a few other pictures today.  

This first one we did using my favorite set, French Foliage, and the new Core'dinations card stock from the Holiday Catalog.  I just LOVE that background!

For our second project we used the Naturals Composition paper from the main catalog.  I just love the look of it brayered with color.  We did change up the card a little and add more leaves to the image panel.  I did two panels to show a few choices and they all liked the other option better.  Of course that's the one I forgot to snap a picture of.   Looks like I was in a More Mustard and Early Espresso mood, huh?  :)

 Here's everyone with their beautiful masterpieces!  (Notice my Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler kitchen in the background.)

Last night was our last meeting of this round of club so I wanted to make them up a special gift.  I found this fun idea on Pinterest and made them this gift-in-a-jar.  Jason was a huge help with these or I think it would have taken me forever!  

LOL  Is this not THE best "caption this" photo ever?!  I love it!    

Friday Mashup Flowers

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using "Faux Washi Tape".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project using the "Sketch and Faux Washi Tape".

Tara is our hostess this week at The Friday Mashup and she challenged us with a technique and this cool sketch!  I didn't manage to mash mine up as I couldn't find the tape in our house, but if you want to, you can find the tutorial here.  

I had an idea for this card in my head for over a week but couldn't find the stamp set.   I finally found it the other day which was great because I didn't really have any other ideas!   It didn't translate quite how I pictured it, but I guess it's still okay.   

Stamps:  Inspired by Nature

Ink: Versamark

Paper:  Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Basic Gray, First Edition DSP, scraps for the flags

Tools/Accessories:  Heat Tool, black embossing powder, Scallop Edge punch, Neutrals buttons

I am a bit obsessed with cone flowers, so here's some I took a picture of at the arboretum the other day.  :)  

She just keeps growing so fast.  I'm afraid prom is just around the corner!  Ha!