Cupcake for Two Paper Divas

I'm pretty sure I will never be on time or get things done when I plan ever again.  lol   I'm finally sitting down to post my card for Two Paper Divas this week.  It was release week and they have some fun new stuff!   I needed a birthday card for my niece so I grabbed the new Large Cupcake stamp and colored it with my Copics to match a sheet of patterned paper.   I kept it simple as I really wanted the cupcake to shine.  It's so cute and yummy!   The sentiment comes from another set, Masor Jar Accessories #4.

I also made it to play along with another Dare to Get Dirty challenges at Splitcoast.  The deadline to enter is tomorrow and I'm bummed that I wasn't able to do more.   I did enjoy the ones I did make, so that is all that matters, right?

My parents sent Laila some money so she was so excited to go shopping.  She loves trains and picked this Thomas playset.  She had a blast with it and played and played.  It looked boring to me, but she loves it and that's all that matters.   I've been getting all her stuff together so she can start Mother's Day Out next month.  I am hoping we all benefit from her going two days a week.  Jason and I need a break and she is looking forward to playing with other kids.  I'm just not sure she quite gets that we won't be there.   I also signed her up for a little dance class.  Lots of new stuff!   :)

Sew Freshly Made

Welcome to Wednesday and Freshly Made Sketches.   Cindy L. is our hostess and I am in love with the sketch she created.   If you check out the design team blog, you can see why!  It can be used so many different ways and looks good in all of them!   :)  I combined it with another of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges and the Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge.

Come play along with us this week!   And mark your calendars for a big celebration on our 200th sketch!   It's only two weeks away!  

Dare to Be Crazy

I decided to put together another card with the red and yellow papers that were left from my last card.  It's always nice to use up some supplies for more than one card.  I don't usually like making the same card more than once, so I rarely end up using the same stuff.  This worked out great though.   And seriously?!  These birds!  I love them.  This is for Susan's Dare to Get Dirty challenge.

Stamps:  Tim Holtz Bird Crazy, Taylored Expressions Birthday Grumplings
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight, miscellaneous patterned paper
Ink:  MFT Black Licorice, Copics, Stampin' Up! Real Red
Embellishments:  MFT Red Hot buttons, Stampin' Up! Crushed Curry Baker's Twine

Two Paper Divas Strawberries

I'm so sorry that this didn't post yesterday.  I don't know what I did, but I messed up my post somehow.  I didn't notice until this morning and I haven't had time to sit down and redo it until this evening.  So, so sorry!    

This is my card for Two Paper Divas this week and it uses the Large Seed Packet stamp along with Seed Packet Accessories #1.  I wanted to combine my design team card with another of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges, so this one uses a challenge presented by Dina.   I don't know how many of the challenges I'll actually get done, but it's always fun to play along.

Stamps:  Two Paper Divas Large Seed Packet, Seed Packet Accessories #1
Ink:  Memento Black, Copics
Paper: Neenah Solar White, miscellaneous designer paper
Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! Daffodil Delight ribbon, $1 bin enamel dots

Yesterday was my sweet Eli's birthday.  It's hard to believe he would have been seven now.   It was a hot day, but we took him a balloon, some flowers, a new wind chime, and bubbles.   And tears.  Lots of tears.  

Dare to Get Dirty 2015

After a huge case of the blahs and major anxiety this week, I finally managed to make a few cards!  I am going to share the first two I made for the new Dare to Get Dirty challenges on Splitcoast.   If you are a member of the Fan Club over there go check them out!  It's a ton of challenges in one week, so I know I probably won't even get close to finishing them.   They did get me out of the funk of the week and start this month off stamping, so that's fabulous!

This card was super fun to make.  Laila talked me into buying this mermaid stamp last week and I have to say, it's scary!!!    I am definitely not an expert at coloring people and she's a super hard one to do.   I think a little girl will love this one though.  :)   It's for Lydia's first challenge.

Stamps:  Penny Black Mimi the Mermaid, Altenew Super Script,MFT Polka Dot background
Ink:  Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers Distress Ink, Copics, SU Bermuda Bay
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Tools:  Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle dies, Simon Says Stamp Medium Dot die, MFT Blueprints 20
Embellishments:  Stampin' Up! Brights Collection Buttons, SU White Baker's Twine, Pretty Pink Posh and SSS sequins

My second card is for Teresa's challenge.   I had so much fun with this one!  I love making these backgrounds!

Stamps:  Unity
Ink:  Lots of Tim Holtz distress inks, MFT Black Licorice
Paper:  SU Elegant Eggplant, Neenah Solar White
Tools:  Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circle dies
Embellishments:  Studio Calico Wood Veneers Stars, Heidi Swapp Color Shine Tinsel, water

I have a few more in the works, including a Two Papers Divas card for this week and I'm off to finish those up.  It maybe be later tomorrow before you see those as the good lighting is gone for the day and we have plans for early tomorrow.   Stay tuned though!

A Special Butterfly

Some cards are just hard to make.  So hard.   July is a very difficult month for us as we anticipate the flood of emotions that come on our Eli's birthday on August 2nd.   It has been a struggle for weeks now.   On Saturday we heard the news that another family had lost their sweet girl to spinal muscular atrophy.    The Strong family has been an amazing inspiration to the SMA community and work tirelessly on helping other families and finding a cure.   Their beautiful Gwendolyn was seven and lived an inspiring life.   Many of us have spent years and years sharing in her life and struggles and just love the family.   Our community was heartbroken to hear of her passing.   I cried myself to sleep that night, but managed to channel some of that emotion into a card.   Butterflies are their thing, so I hope this is the right card to send.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.  

Entering in the MarkerPOP Anything Goes challenge.

Simon Says Sparkle

Sharing another card made with an image and watercolor panel that's been hanging out on my desk for a while.  I finally combined them and made this fun card.   I added a bit of bling with some sequins and silver embossing paste.  I would like to enter it in the Simon Wednesday Challenge as it is Sparkle and Shine this week.   :)  I think I only have one more image that needs a home on a card, so I hope to make that happen soon!



This is a bit of a different card for me, but I like it!  

Stamps:  MFT Super Girl
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Canson Watercolor Paper, SU Riding Hood Red
Ink:  SU Real Red, Copics, Koi Watercolors
Dies:  Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangles, MFT Blueprints

Two Paper Divas Bee Happy

Today I am sharing a card using a new set I got from Two Paper Divas called Bee Happy.  It's so cute!!!  I loved coloring the hive and adding in my cute little bees.   I kept it simple to show off the hexagon embossing and my little bees hiding in that.  Buzz!   Now I have a cute little card I can send off to a friend this week!  Yay!

Someone isn't happy if a car leaves the house and she's not in it.   Yesterday I had to go grocery shopping and promised her a surprise if she'd stay home with daddy.   I have had a magnifying glass on my to-find list forever and the grocery store had one in the school supply section!  Perfect!   She has had a blast with it!   I love encouraging her to explore and learn.