Stampin' Up! Too Kind

It's my turn to host the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!  I have a pretty simple one that can still be interpreted a few different ways.  I stuck to the script this week because my card idea was just perfect for the sketch I designed.  It's nice when that happens!  :)    Too Kind is still my favorite set in the annual catalog. If you don't have it yet, I seriously don't know why not!  It's AWESOME!   I used the Color Coach to get this color combo of Midnight Muse and Rich Razzleberry.   I LOVE them together!

See, pretty simple.   I love what the design team did with it and can't wait to see all the entries!

There's been a lot of "bow on" requests lately and this was her choice on Sunday.  Rawr!  I'm starting to fear that I have a girly girl on my hands.  Yikes!   This tomboy sports-loving mom won't know what to do with that!

One Layer Happiness

I'm a bit behind on my homework for the online class I'm taking.  I haven't had a lot of luck mastering some of the techniques we've learned so it's been more practicing and not much card making.   I think this one is okay enough to show at least.  It is a true one layer card with some sponging and embossing.   Nothing complicated, but I am not good at sponging!   Nor masking apparently.  lol  I'm practicing and have added some masking paper to my shopping wishlist.  I really need to win the lottery so I can buy all the stamping goodies that are piling up on my want list!

I have been thinking about trying to sell my cards online somewhere, so if anyone has any tips for that email me please.  I tried Etsy before with no luck.   Ebay maybe?   I need to fund my habit one way or another!   UPDATE: I added a For Sale tab on my blog, so we'll see how it goes.   Thanks for the recommendations! :)

Laila painted her first masterpiece on Sunday.   She had a blast, so we'll definitely have to do it again.  :)

Hat, truck, and a pink shirt.  Perfect combination for my girl.

Stamp Review Crew The Open Sea Edition

It's time for a new hop of The Stamp Review Crew!   This time we are featuring one of my favorite sets, The Open Sea!  :)   Remember, if you get lost or turned around at any point in the hop we have a main landing page for you!

I'm a bit obsessed with watercolor paper lately.  I've made a lot of cards with this set, but nothing like this I think.  I used my reinkers and Aquapainter to do a watercolor wash on the background.   Then I stamped my ship on watercolor paper and used the Aquapainter and reinkers again for that.   I'm a bit impatient for this technique as I hate waiting for it to dry, but it ends up worth it in the end!

Stamps:  The Open Sea, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Staz On black plus Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Soft Sky, and Crumb Cake reinkers
Paper:  Basic Black, Watercolor Paper
Tools:  Big Shot, Starburst framelits, 2 1/2 circle die, Aquapainter, Distress Tool
Accessories:  Neutrals Candy Dots, Linen Thread, Brights Designer Buttons

    

CASE this Party Animal

Ever had a stamp set you just had to have?  I saw this adorable Avery Elle set about a month ago and fell in love.  It has been out of stock everywhere, but last week a friend saw that it was available and messaged me.  So...   lol   I thought it would be super fun with this week's sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.  I also am entering at the AE I heartU challenge to use embellishments!  It's a bit strange that I love it so much since I'm terrified of balloons! 

   

Sorry for the lack of posts this week.  Yesterday was my 10th wedding anniversary so Jason and I spent the day out and about.   He rented this cool car and we drove it down to the Kemah Boardwalk and spent some time just walking around.  We rode the ferris wheel and had dinner at The Aquarium.   I was a bit bummed when we had to return the car today, but I had a blast driving it as it's my dream car!

He even put Laila's car seat in it today and we took her for a ride around the neighborhood with the top down.  She LOVED it and so did we.  :)    She also got to play outside for a while today.  It was just a beautiful, beautiful day!

Stampin' Up! Perfect Pennants

Time for a new Freshly Made Sketch!  :)  Jen T. is our pilot, I mean hostess, this week and she has an awesome sketch for us.  I don't feel like my card really does it justice as I struggled a bit and ended up with one that I don't really like.  I think I was just trying TOO hard.  Do you do that? Not a good thing.  Anyway...I love the retro colors and I really loved the retro pattern on the DSP.  I tried to find a file for my Cameo that would go with it and I don't know that I did really?   I cut out a funky squares border (Design #9877) 4 times and layered it on my base to try to add a bit of texture and fun.   Hmm....

Isn't it great?  A fabulous sketch to give those banner dies a workout!  And I can't believe I missed a change to use a button!  I LOVE buttons! Darn!

Someone really loves my camera phone.  She doesn't really like taking pictures, just watching herself in it.  She does the same thing with mirrors.  lol  We had a nice day yesterday which was great.  :)   

CS3 Day One

Where have I been?!   I honestly don't know where the times goes!  I did finish up the cards for my next event, so I have been stamping.   I'll share those after the event, but I did make something I can share today.   I signed up to take a new class with my Freshly Made Sketches sisters.  (I feel like they are all sisters now; we have an amazing group!)  It's a clean-and-simple class focusing on one layer cards.  I know this one has two layers, but it's really just to hide the die cuts.  Who wants to open up a card and see all that mess on the back?!   You *could* do it one layer, but we like our cards pretty, right?!  lol   I had a lot of fun with this first technique.  The stamps and dies are non-SU, but I used our lovely paper in Real Red and Pacific Point.  

I hope I can improve on my clean-and-simple skills with this class.  It's a style I'm drawn to, but it's so hard!  The less you put on a card, the more each thing matters.  So. Much. Pressure.    *breathe*   

Talk about useless...  Those locks are only made to keep adults out!  We've been in the crazy that is toddlers lately.  Jason and I could probably both use a drink and maybe we will have one on Thursday to celebrate our 10th anniversary!  lol   She's a cute little thing but man... the attitude!!!   

Mixed Media with Stampin' Up! Summer Silhouettes

After taking the Stenciled class I've really become intrigued with mixed media.  I am not a complicated stamper, so I wasn't sure if it was something that would really fit in with my stamping. I decided to try some of the Mix-Ability challenges over on Splitcoast.  I started with the first one and will work my way through them as I have time.  I hope to learn a little something along with way.  :)   For this one we had to use a matte finish and a shiny finish.  I used gesso (tinted Coastal Cabana) and embossing powder.  

I used my Aquapainter to make the ombre tag.  I am really enjoying using that and watercolor paper so much now!   I wanted to use a tag to play along at the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.   :)   

It was so pretty out today, so we took a little trip to the park.  :)  

Freshly Made Flower

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.   Amy is our hostess this week and she had a trendy sketch with some fun angled panels for us this week.   It's one that's totally out of my comfort zone, but I love how my card turned out.  :)   Black and Pool Party are such an awesome combo!  I added in some Sweet Sorbet paper (free during Sale-a-bration) and a lovely layered flower that I cut with my Cameo.  Easy, but I think the colors make it a pretty striking card!

I can't wait to see the gallery this week.  So many possibilities!  

We just bought Laila a water table to play with outside and it was warm enough on Saturday for her to play.  She LOVED it.  She played for about 2 hours nonstop!  Unfortunately it's been all bad weather since then, but we hope for that to go away so we can splish splash some more!