Double Challenge Snowman

I got to run away from home for a bit on Thursday to stamp and have lunch with some friends and this was the project I worked on.  I loved the current challenges at Curtain Call and the new sketch from MFT Stamps challenge, so I decided to combine them.  I love how it turned out! I'm still learning to use distress inks, but I am enjoying them!

  
Aren't those great?  I took the idea of the scarf and used my MFT Pure Innocence snowman.  :)   I love this stamp so much.

She's finally asking me to take her picture again.  We went through a major "NO!" stage every time I got out the camera, so I'm happy to get to take some again!  She's getting so big.  It's crazy that she'll be three in less than 5 months. Sniff, sniff.

Stampin' Up! Yee-Haw

January...  how are those resolutions going?  I tried not to make any demanding ones, just a few crafty ones and to follow through on the one I made last year.  So far, so good!    I decided to do a no-spending month this month so that I have time to play with all my new goodies (and neglected, forgotten older ones).   This set has been on my shelf for a while, so when I saw Darnell's NBUS challenge I decided to join in and this was my first pick to ink up.  

I hope you guys hadn't given up on me and Stampin' Up!  I'm just finding myself (lol) and using a bit of this and that.  This one is almost all SU except for the Copics I used to color it and the bit of twine I tried to make a lasso with.   I still love much of my SU stuff, but I just needed a little detour.  My goal is to do a nice mix of companies since I think that's what I enjoy most.  :) 

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Yee-Haw

Ink:  Early Espresso, Mememto Black, Copics

Paper:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Neenah Solar White

Others:  Stars embossing folder

Two Paper Divas Flowers

I thought I'd share another Two Paper Divas card with you today.   It's been so rainy and dreary here, so I made a happy card with some yellow to brighten things up a bit.   Rumor has it we might see some sun today, but it's looking wet and yucky to me!   Anyway...   The stamps I used go with the Seed Packet stamps, but I wanted to use my new tag dies so I went for a card without the packet this time.  :)  

Stamps:  Banners #2, Seed Packet Accessories #1
Ink:  Mememto Black, Early Espresso, Copics
Paper:  Stampin' Up! So Saffron, Early Espresso, Brights stack, Neenah Solar White
Other:  My Favorite Things Blueprints 20, Stitched Traditional Tags STAX, Pretty Pink Posh sequins, Stampin' Up! Neutrals buttons, Early Espresso and Crushed Curry Baker's Twine, Early Espresso Seam Binding

It was very cold yesterday, but we safely delivered Eli's flowers and had a nice walk around the cemetery.   <3 nbsp="" p="">

What's Shaking?

It's Wednesday, which means Freshly Made Sketches day.  Our sketch this week comes from our awesome pilot on the team, Jen Timko.   I decided to try and make my first shaker card.  I am not so sure about it, but I learned some things in the process to make the next one easier.  That's what crafting is all about, right?  Learning and trying new things.  

My creativity and enjoyment of creating is a bit off this week.  Today is the sixth anniversary of the day we lost our sweet boy and my heart feels a little more broken than usual.  I've tried to keep stamping as it's very helpful and calming, but I know not to expect fabulous results.   And that's okay...  it's not about making something that we love every time, but enjoying and savoring the process of being creative.  Such wonderful therapy.  

Sweet Eli.  Forever 5 months, 12 days old.

Stampin' Up! Love is Kindness

One of the stamps in the new Stampin' Up! Occasions catalog really caught my eye and I was excited to get it to color!  It is just beautiful and that quote is amazing!   I kept my card very simple to highlight the image.   I finally got a darker red Copic marker for Christmas, so I couldn't resist making the tulips red so I could take it for a spin.  :)  

Stamps:  Stampin' Up! Love is Kindness
Ink:  Mememto Black, Copics
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Others: Lil' Inker stitched rectangle dies, Pretty Pink Posh clear sequins, misc red ribbon

Some serious stamping.  lol  She had pink fingers at the end, but she had fun and that's what matters.  :)

Monday Inspiration from Prickley Pear

Happy Monday!   It's still cold here in Texas, so we are grumbling and bundled up.  lol   I wanted to share my card for today's Prickley Pear inspiration.  I went for an simple yet elegant card.  I love the flower flourish and paired it with a gorgeous indigo color.  

Stamps:  CLR-002 Hibiscus
Ink:  Memento Black, Island Indigo, Copics
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Island Indigo
Others:  PPRS-D042 Scallop Oval Nesting Dies, Island Indigo 1/4 cotton ribbon

Be sure to stop by the blog and see all the inspiration from the rest of the team!

Sometimes your Hello Kitties need to ride in the Hello Kitty car.  :)

Happy 2015

One of my Christmas gifts were some cool number dies from Lawn Fawn.   I have always wanted some numbers but in all the years I've been stamping, I've never owned any.  Crazy.  Jason fixed that though and I was able to make this super cool card!  It was so fun to do too.   Now I need to try it with my alphabet dies.  Because I used something new, I'd like to enter this in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week.  :)

Hope you have a great weekend!  Stay warm.  :)

My serious stamper.  lol

Always Here For You

I thought I'd share another card I made for the Winnie & Walter birthday celebration.  Vanessa's challenge was to use a gradient (or ombre) for your card.   I stamped my leaves in 3 different colors, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, and Pool Party.   I cut out and popped the middle one up to add a little dimension.

Stamps: Winnie & Walter A Tree for All Seasons
Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party
Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
Other:  Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangle dies, SU Doilies, misc sequins

We are off to Laila's checkup and I'm dreading it.  She's so scared of people, so we are anticipating a lot of freaking out and screaming.  We've tried prepping her and getting her excited about seeing Dr. Lloren, but we'll see how it goes.  Wish us luck!