FMS106: Merry Christmas

This was one of those cards that almost didn't happen.   I had a pretty rough month last month and then started this month off with yet another bad day.  I planned to take this week off from Freshly Made Sketches because I've just been too upset/depressed to stamp. My awesome teammates gave me a pep talk and I decided to go stamp (or try to) last night after dinner.  This is what I came up with.  It's by no means the best card ever, but I'm happy I made something.  It helped so much! Our sketch this week was by the talented and oh so sweet Amy. 

Isn't that a great sketch?   As you can tell from all the design team samples, the possibilities are endless!  :)

Laila got her very own page in the Hope Calendar this year!   :)   I just love it and I can't wait to get one.  If you'd like to support a wonderful charity, you can purchase a copy here.

This card brought to you by....

...CODEINE! Allisa, who I think is awesomesauce, created this fabulous sketch for us at Freshly Made Sketches this week.   I have been feeling like death since late last week, so I haven't stamped at all.  I wasn't sure I'd even try to participate this week.  After taking my cough syrup last night, the idea for this card came to me.  I figured I'd go give it a shot and see if it turned out.   

One of my favorite contraband (or non-SU) items is my set of star framelits.  I love how easy the framelits are to use.  I really need to get the magnetic platform soon to make them even easier!  The Night of Navy designer paper was from the Clearance Rack.  I needed more DSP so bad!  (Seriously, I am going to be on Hoarders soon!)

Stamps:  Sweet Essentials

Ink: Night of Navy

Paper: Night of Navy, Silver, Whisper White, Regals DSP stack (retired)

Tools:  Star framelits (Sizzix), Merry Minis punch pack

Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones

The owl obsession continues... She was actually sick for a few days last week and still has a bit of a cough at night.  I seem to have got the worst of it though and can't seem to feel any better, even after five days of it.  Jason has been taking good care of us both.  I hope I can manage okay when he goes back to work Thursday.   I barely made it through Saturday; thankfully we had some new toys in the closet that kept her occupied.   

FMS104 So Many Thanks

Linda S created a fabulous sketch for Freshly Made Sketches this week.   I totally didn't do it justice, but I'm pinning it to use again once my mojo is back.  This week is one of those that just makes me want to hide in bed with a book.  Toddlers make that impossible of course.  This too shall pass...  repeat, repeat, repeat!

Stamps: So Many Thanks (photopolymer)

Ink:  Tangerine Tango

Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Sweater Weather DSP

Accessories: Tangerine Tango baker's twine, Tangerine Tango button (retired)

We finally managed to get Laila's Hope Calendar pictures made on Monday!  Yay! She woke up grumpy, but she did okay for the pictures.  Well, she didn't want to sit still but she wasn't crying at least. We got a sneak peek and now I can't wait to see our proofs!  

Stampin' Up! Lovely As a Tree CASE

We are trying to get Laila's pictures taken for the Hope Calendar again today (attempt #4), so we'll be on the go early.   I thought I'd share our other club project this morning before I jump in the shower.   It's a simple card using the masking tape technique.  A friend sent me a link to Laurie's awesome cards and I decided to CASE one because they are just so gorgeous!

Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Tools: Masking Tape

She's so cute when she's happy.  :)

Stampin' Up! Halloween Happiness

No scrap card today.  :-/  Between football and stamp club coming up next week, I had to be focused on doing those projects.   I wanted to do a cute little Halloween card using the Halloween Happiness stamp from the Holiday Catalog.  I kept it pretty simple, but I think it's adorable.  

Stamps:  Halloween Happiness

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip markers

Paper:  Basic Black, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Brights DSP stack, Polka Dot Parade DSP

Tools:  Big Shot, Chevron TIEF, Paper Snips

A certain little girl is obsessed with owls this week.  She learned to say it as we were reading a new Halloween book we found at Michael's and now she wakes up saying it....and says it all day.  My sweet stamping friend Anne Marie had sent Laila this owl way over a year ago, so I knew now was the perfect time to pull it out.  She LOVES it.  lol  She's back to normal now and feeling like herself again; throwing fits, fighting naps...all that fun toddler stuff.  lol  

Stampin' Up! Perfect Blend

Watch out world!  I made two cards today! 

So I think I mentioned earlier this week that I wasn't sure about Baked Brown Sugar.  Now I can't say I dislike it as much as Summer Starfruit since I actually OWN it, but I'm struggling to use it.  I saw the new color challenge at Pals Paper Arts and decided I'd try to use it again and see how it went.  I think my card turned out okay and there might be some acceptance of the color after this card.  ;)   I loved last week's Mojo Monday sketch, so I used it for this card since I didn't have time to play last week.  

Stamps:  Perfect Blend, Gorgeous Grunge

Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar

Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Calypso Coral, Very Vanilla, Epic Day DSP, In Colors DSP stack

Accessories:  Neutrals buttons (retired), Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Basic Pearls

Tools:  Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Distressing Tool, sponges

Peekaboo obsessed!! 

Stampin' Up! Christmas Star

When I saw the sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch I knew it was time to ink up my new Christmas Star stamp!  It's such a gorgeous stamp and one of the awesome single stamps currently available.  I wanted to do it in blues, so I used Night of Navy and the retired Bashful Blue.  The navy star is heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder for a bit of extra shine.  

Stamps:  Christmas Star, Greetings of the Season

Ink: Bashful blue, Night of Navy, Versamark

Paper:  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White

Accessories:  Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Basic Rhinestones

Tools: Heat Tool

Laila is feeling much better!  She's back to her temper tantrum throwing self in fact.  :)  We think she had the roseola virus because once her fever went away, she developed a rash.   It would explain pretty much everything from the past 5 days in fact.   Whatever it was, I'm glad it's gone.  It was not a fun time and Jason and I are still trying to recover emotionally.  We had a difficult time getting her to drink liquids while she was sick, but this cute open cup helped.  She had to hold it a few times and of course that meant dumping it out.  lol 

Stampin' Up! Too Kind for FMS

I'm totally running behind this week, but I did manage to make a card for Freshly Made Sketches.  Jen B. had a fabulous sketch for us and I figured I might as well try.  I'm not sure how great I stamp with only a few hours of sleep, but it's still better than the cards I made when I first started stamping.  lol   I was intrigued with the colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments, so I tried using those for my card.  I am struggling with Baked Brown Sugar a lot!   I don't know why I always end up using Too Kind for my cards, but it just always seems to work.  It's a fabulous set! 

Stamps:  Too Kind, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green

Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, In Colors DSP stack

Accessories:  Whisper White 1/4 stitched grosgrain ribbon

I don't have a new picture of Laila for today, but I thought I'd share the awful cake I made at my second Wilton class last night.  It's definitely another hobby that requires A LOT of practice!  I was going to skip the class because I was so tired, so I guess a cake that I'm not face down asleep in is a accomplishment.  ;)