ColourQ | Challenge #191

The other card I created using new Papertrey Ink stamps is for this week's ColourQ challenge. I don't have a Cool Caribbean ink pad so I substituted with Pool Party:

The cute little banner stamp is a new photopolymer set from Stampin' Up! called Show & Tell #1. 

(Supplies - Stamps: (PTI) Pedal Pusher, Side by Side Sentiments. (Stampin' Up!) Show & Tell #1. Ink: (Stapin' Up!) Pool Party, Going Gray, Real Red. (PTI) New Leaf. Cardstock: (Stampin' Up!) Pool Party. (PTI) Soft Stone, Pure Poppy, White. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Soft Stone and Harvest Gold patterns packs. Dies: (PTI) Pedal Pusher, Pinked Edger. Other: button, twine, brads.)

I trimmed the Harvest Gold gingham paper to cover the basket... something I saw Erin Lincoln do with one of her sample cards. It makes for a very cheerful basket full of apples. :)

The boys are happily watching Wipeout, so I might try and sneak up to my office... I have a couple of cards due this week/weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

RetroSketches | Challenge #65

There is nothing better than new stamps to spark creativity, and when my Papertrey Ink box arrived yesterday I had to pull it out and create a couple of new cards. This one is for this week's RetroSketches challenge:

I used Dawn McVey's new Ruby Rose set, Embroidered Blooms, and Background Basics - Newsprint:

(supplies - Stamps: (Papertrey Ink) Background Basics: Newspring, Ruby Rose, Embroidered Blooms. Ink: (PTI) Enchanted Evening, Ripe Avocado, Simply Chartreuse, Melon Mambo, Aqua Mist. (Stampin' Up!) Basic Gray. Impression Plate: (PTI) Diamonds. Cardstock: (PTI) Enchanted Evening, Melon Mambo, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, white. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Melon Berry Patterns Pack. Dies: (PTI) Ruby Rose. Other: buttons, twine, enamel dots.)

I love the layering possibilities of this set! The different layers of flowers + the striped leaves are gorgeous and so much fun to work with.

That's it for me tonight. Mark is working a lot of overtime this week (leaving me with the boys most of the time) and I am about to collapse from exhaustion! Have a great night and thanks for stopping by! 

Great Impressions Stamps | Boots + Flowers

Good morning! I hope everyone is rested after the three day weekend. We did absolutely nothing (and it was awesome!). The kids played, I read (a lot...), and I worked in my studio while watching movies last night. And the boys had a water balloon fight... definitely the highlight of the weekend for them!

On to my card! For this week's card I pulled out Great Impressions' Spring Boots stamp and my Copic/Spectrum Noir markers for a birthday card:

(Supplies - Stamps: (Great Impressions) Tags, Spring Boots. Ink: (Memento) Tuxedo Black. Cardstock: (PTI) Spring Moss, white, Autumn Rose. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Sweet Blush patterns pack. Dies: (PTI) Limitless Layers Ovals, Banners. Other: Gems.)

The sentiment is from a new stamp: Tags. I did a little selective inking to isolate the sentiment then stamped it on the die cut banner. I think the font matches the fun set of rain boots nicely.  

That's it for me today! I hope everyone has a great week!

CAS-ual Fridays | Red, White, and Blue Challenge

This week's challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays is to use Red, White, and Blue. I did a little searching on Pinterest for inspiration, and found a beautiful star pendant that I used as a starting off point for my card.

(Supplies - Stamp: (Mama Elephant) On Target. Cardstock: (Papertrey Ink) Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, White, silver shimmer. Ink: (Papertrey Ink) Enchanted Ink. Die: (Papertrey Ink) Seeing Stars, Star Gazer dies. Other: Gems.)

The pack of gems I picked up from Michaels has both clear and frosted gems, and I used both on this card, alternating the two. The tiny star dies are new from Papertrey Ink: Star Gazer die collection. They are so tiny, but I love the subtle detail they add when used with silver shimmer paper.

Check back tomorrow for a new card using Great Impressions Stamps. I pulled out my Copic markers for a spring birthday card. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

ColourQ | Challenge #190

Hey there!

I am so excited about this week's ColourQ challenge... the colors are gorgeous together! I did use Dusty Durango instead of Really Rust (a color I sold on eBay many years ago!), but I think I stayed true to the color scheme. 

I pulled out several Stampin' Up! stamps that coordinate to create the background paper: Itty Bitty Bits (small flower), Lacy and Lovely (small blue and large blue flowers), and an older hostess set, Mixed Medley (medium Dusty Durango circle). 

(Supplies - Stamps: (Stampin' Up!) Itty Bitty Bits, Lacy and Lovely, Mixed Medley. (Papertrey Ink) Movers and Shakers Sentiments, Gratitude Journal. Ink: (Stampin' Up!) Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Dusty Durango, Midnight Muse. Cardstock: (Stampin' Up!) White, Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse, More Mustard. Dies: (PTI) Mat Stack #4 and Layerz, Filigree border die. Other: Buttons, white thread.) 

I'll be back in a bit with a card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge. Thanks for stopping by!

Make it Monday | Paper Piecing Challenge

Hey there! It's the first day of summer vacation and the boys are still in their pajamas, watching a Christmas movie. I think they are ready to be home for a few months!

I worked on a card last night for this week's Make it Monday challenge: Paper Piecing. I have several beautiful line art images that are perfect for coloring, but my coloring is, well, lacking in some areas. I can do some blending but sometimes it's easier to stamp on some pretty patterned paper and fussy cut them images. Which is what I did here, using Papertrey Ink's Strawberry Patch stamp set. A neglected, but oh so pretty, strawberry building set. I stamped onto Ripe Avocado, Melon Berry, and Pure Poppy bitty dot patterned paper using Archival black ink. I used black enamel on the "seeds" of the strawberries, giving them a more realistic look:

(Supplies - Stamps: (Papertrey Ink) Strawberry Patch, Label Basics. Ink: (Ranger) Archival Black. (Stampin' Up!) Groovy Guava. (Papertrey Ink) Pure Poppy. Patterned Paper: (Papertrey Ink) Ripe Avocado, Melon Berry, and Pure Poppy Patterns Packs. Cardstock: (Papertrey Ink) Rustic White, Melon Berry. Dies: (PTI) Label Basics, Other: Buttons, ribbon, gems, enamel, white thread.)

I stamped the large strawberry images onto rustic white cardstock, then again onto the three different patterned papers. After I cut out the individual strawberries, stems, leaves, and flowers, I layered them over the stamped image. I really do love this set, and after working with it last night I need to remember to pull it out more often!

I hope everyone has a great week. We are off to the park this afternoon. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Great Impressions Stamps | Hello

I had the pleasure of working with some of Great Impressions new release stamps a few weeks ago, and I was especially drawn to the Bicycle with Flowers stamp. Line art images are perfect for coloring, but I wanted to try a gold, yellow, and berry color combo with gold embossing powder for the main image. The bike is very detailed so I used gold filigree embossing powder on Melon Berry cardstock.

 (Supplies - Stamp: (Great Impressions) Bicycle with Flowers. Ink: VersaMark. Cardstock: (PTI) Melon Berry. Patterned Paper: unknown. Buttons: Papertrey Ink. Letter stickers: Fancy Pants)

Have you tried embossing on colored cardstock? I can't wait to try out the gold embossing powder on dark blue and aqua cardstock next... I love embossing powder!

I hope everyone has a great week! Tomorrow is "game day" at Ev's school, so I am off to find his Battleship game. Only two more days of school and he can't wait for summer vacation to begin. Truth be told, I am a little burned out and I can't wait for summer to start! 

Thanks for stopping by. :) 

Traditional + Digital | Scrapbook Layouts

Hey guys! I have a few more layouts to share today... two traditional layouts and one digital. I am having so much fun working with my photos again! And of course using some fun product, too. Who doesn't love chipboard banners and cute little letter stickers and Thickers?!? 

But up first is a digital layout using MyeDeLeon's new kit: Carefree. I used a lot of elements from her kit (paper, banners, frame, doily, butterfly sticker, journaling card, and "having fun" sticker). I also used one of her new Page Blenders for the beautiful white frame. 

Up next is a CAS photos + journaling + washi tape + letter stickers layout. Super simple:

(Supplies - Washi tape (unknown). Letter stickers: (BasicGray). "create art" stickers: (Tim Holtz). Stamp: (Technique Tuesday). Tab: (October Afternoon). Other: Typewriter.)

I love using my old typewriter to create journaling for layouts. And it is especially convenient when I want to type directly on a journaling card (for project life). I use temporary adhesive to adhere the 3x4 or 4x6 journaling card to a piece of printer paper then feed it through the typewriter. Works like a charm! 

The last layout I have features our adorable kitty, Lilly. She was just a munchkin when Mark picked her up from the animal shelter (and only weighed 2 pounds!). She is much bigger now, tipping the scales at 10 pounds, and is still as cute as ever. And that chevron paper is one of my favorites... I love it! I don't have a detailed supply list for this layout because I completed it several weeks ago and I can't remember who made what, but if you have any questions leave a comment and I will do my best to answer them. 

Close up of the typed journaling: 

Awesome chipboard Thickers and cluster of elements on the top of the layout: 

I think that's it! I will be back tomorrow with a card (or two) if I can get into my office in the afternoon. My dad is in town to watch Evan play in his first ever soccer tournament so the next few days will be super busy. 

Have a great week!

Retro Sketches + Studio Calico Sunday Sketch + Moxie Fab Gift Tag Challenge

I have a couple of cards + one tag to share today for three different challenges: Retro Sketches + Studio Calico Sunday Sketch + Moxie Fab Gift Tag Challenge.

First up is a card for this week's Retro Sketches Challenge:

(Supplies - Stamps: (PTI) Super Star, Big Ticket Basics, Boutique Borders Birthday, Polka Dot Basics Two. (Studio Calico) Planetarium Card Kit stamp set. Cardstock: (PTI) Aqua Mist, Harvest Gold, White. Ink: (PTI) Harvest Gold, Melon Berry, Enchanted Evening, Summer Sunrise. Other: Button, twine, gem.)

Next up is a tag for the Moxie Fab Gift Tag Challenge. I love, love, love this chevron paper by Dear Lizzy! I used it on another card a few months ago, but this time I trimmed it down so the pattern is a diagonal stripe rather than a chevron. The heart sticker is also from Dear Lizzy. In person it is super shiny, but that was hard to capture with my camera. I love the gold mixed with the bright Aqua Mist and Rose Red:

(Supplies - Stamps: (PTI) Tag-Its #4. Ink: (PTI) Enchanted Evening. Cardstock: (PTI) Sea Shimmer Paper. Patterned Paper: (Dear Lizzy) 5th and Frolic collection pack. Stickers: (Dear Lizzy) 5th and Frolic. Ribbon: (Stampin' Up!) Rose Red seam binding. Enamel Dots: My Mind's Eye. Die: (PTI) Tag Sale #7. Other: Button, twine.)

The last project I have to share is a card for this week's Studio Calico Sunday Sketch Challenge:

And here is my take:

(Supplies - Stamps, patterned paper, chipboard stars: Planetarium card kit . Twine, ink, dies: PTI. Enamel Dots: MME)

I think that's it! I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Thanks for stopping by!

Making Faces & My Journey With You | Digital & Hybrid Layouts

I follow a few blogs that talk about "birthday goals"... activities/projects/travel they want to do before their next birthday. I like the concept of setting goals but sometimes the follow through can be a bit challenging! But when I turned 28 back in March I mentally challenged myself to create 100 layouts between my 28th and 29th birthday. Two months later and I'm not quite on track to complete that goal, but I'm close. I should probably go back and actually count the layouts I've created, both digital and traditional/hybrid layouts, and I plan on doing that this week. But for today I have two new layouts to share. One is using Karla Dudley's new kit, Blah, and one is using a Karla Dudley cut file + a couple of past Studio Calico kits. 

First up is the digital layout:

 (Supplies -(Karla Dudley) Polka dot patterned paper, journaling card, alpha, brushes, sticker, tag: Blah. Blue patterned paper: Butterfly. Frames: Polaroid-ies Set No. 1. Definition: Life Defined. "So you" brush: KD Life 365. "Love you": Take Note. Staples: Digi Essentials. (Scotty Girl Designs) Date Stamp and Skinny Stitches.)

Up next is my hybrid layout. I used this cut file from Karla Dudley for a white title. I'm not thrilled with how the layout photographed... it was getting late here and I was losing daylight. But the title shows up really well in person. And my journaling is also legible, although it does fade a bit in the middle.... my pen ran out of ink and I had to find another one half way through journaling! I used my Studio Calico Spencer's Project Life & Card Kit for this layout:

(Yes, the more I look at it, the more it's bothering me... I will definitely re-photograph and update tomorrow.)

I am waiting for Evan and Mark to return from the soccer fields... Evan had evaluations tonight to join the "select" team with our soccer club. I am so nervous for him! Of course I told him that the tryouts are "no big deal" and he should try his best, but I'm really hoping he did well. He looked cool as a cucumber when I dropped him off... I'm sure I was way more nervous than he was!

I'll be back soon with a couple of cards and a tag. Thanks for stopping by!

Great Impression Stamps | Swirly Thanks

Happy Monday, friends!! This week's card uses a beautiful swirl stamp (that I've used before) that I layered with a doily, buttons, and a felt flower & leaves to create an elegant thank you card.  I stamped the swirl with Scarlet Jewel ink onto Sweet Blush cardstock... a lovely combination:

 (Supplies - Stamp: (Great Impressions) Simple Elegance. Ink: (PTI) Scarlet Jewel. Cardstock: (PTI) Sweet Blush, Autumn Rose. Patterned Paper: Dear Lizzy. Dies: (PTI) Headline Alphabet. Other: Doily, felt flower, buttons, twine, gems.)

I used this gorgeous patterned paper to set the color combo for my card: Aqua Mist, Autumn Rose, Scarlet Jewel, Hawaiian Shores, and Simply Chartreuse. Sometimes a pretty piece of paper is all it takes to jump start creativity. 

That's it for me! I am off to get Evan ready for school... his starts his last full week of school today. Only 10 more days until summer vacation starts! 

Have a great week!

 

Scrappy Sunday | Digital Layouts

Happy Mother's Day! I am posting this in the wee hours of Mother's Day morning, but I'm already looking forward to a nice relaxing day at home with my family. Mark has already given me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a promise of breakfast in bed... what more can a girl ask for? :)

I have been busy creating layouts for Pixels and Company, Scotty Girl Designs, and a few other designers this week. First up is a layout that I consulted heavily with Evan to create (and also for the journaling). Because it's all about his new obsession with Star Wars and Angry Birds Star Wars:

(All supplies are Scotty Girl Designs - Far Far Away kit)

Next up is a layout featuring a photo that was taken on Thursday during Mother's Day Tea at Jack's pre-school. I used a beautiful new it called More Than Just a Mom:

The last layout I have to share uses papers and stickers from designer Mindy Terasawa:

Sunglasses and buggy-riding? Oh yes. In this house I try to let the boys be boys. I just hold my breath when they race around corners... I don't want the paint to scuffed up quite yet. We've only been in this house for three months! (And the sole reason I turned this photo into a black and white is to obscure the large pile of clean laundry in the background. I try to capture our everyday life, and loads of laundry definitely qualify).

It is way past my bedtime, but I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day tomorrow! I plan on being pampered. I just hope Mark gets the memo. :)

Cloud9 | May Blog Hop

Hey guys! 

I'm sorry this is a bit late. I had a very important date with my 4 year old at his school. Mother's Day Tea is a big deal around here! Jack presented me with "breakfast in a bag" that he decorated himself (and filled with tea and a granola bar), a hand painted pot with flower seeds, and a beautiful cake that he decorated himself. He was so proud of his creations! But he did tell me that the cake is most definitely for sharing. :)

I have a CAS Get Well card to share for this month's Cloud9 blog hop. Here is the inspiration photo: 

Gorgeous, isn't it!? I used Wplus9's Blanket Stitched Blooms for my card:

(Supplies - Stamps: (Wplus() Blanket Stitched Blooms. Iink: (Stampin' Up!) Wild Wasabi, Pretty In Pink. (PTI) Raspberry Fizz, Spring Rain. Cardstock: (PTI) White, Raspberry Fizz. Patterned paper: (PTI) Spring Rain Patterns Pack. Dies: (Wplus9) Blanket Stitched Blooms. Other: Gems.)

Jack is watching Return of the Jedi and I have a couple of Mother's Day cards that I need to get in the mail... I just hope they arrive in time! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Retro Sketches | Challenge #62

Hi there! May is always a super busy month for us... school is winding down (Evan's last day is in two weeks!), end of the year concerts and performances, soccer is also coming to an end, Mother's Day, Jack's birthday is at the end of April, and this year my Dad is visiting us for 6 days so he can see Evan play in his first soccer tournament. Whew! But I have managed to sneak into my office for a bit of crafty time... and I pulled out my Silhouette Cameo for the first time since the move! Yay! 

I am submitting my card for this week's Retro Sketches challenge: 

Karla's Butterfly Shapes cut files are gorgeous... and compliment my card so well! I stamped the background with Wplus9's Quilt Print stamp set in PTI's Melon Berry, Aqua Mist, and Limeade Ice ink. The sentiment is also from Wplus9: Strictly Sentiments No.1. 

 (Supplies - Stamps: (Wplus9) Strictly Sentiments No. 1, Quilt Prints. Ink: (PTI) Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, Kraft. Cardstock: (Stampin' Up!) White. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Limeade Ice Patterns Pack. Ribbon: (PTI) Aqua Mist. Brad: (Stampin' Up!) In Color polka dot brads. Butterfly die cut: Karla Dudley Digital Cut File. Other: gems.)

I'll be back tomorrow with this month's Cloud9 card. The preview image is absolutely stunning! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Great Impressions Stamps | Blingy Happy Birthday

Good morning! Great Impressions Stamps has a lovely Happy Birthday sentiment stamp that I have used several times... and I worked with it again for today's card. It is swirly and feminine and a lot of fun:

 (Supplies - Stamps: (Great Impressions) Swirly Happy Birthday. Ink: (PTI) Raspberry Fizz (Stampin' Up!) Pretty In Pink. Cardstock: (PTI) White. Patterned Paper: (PTI) Raspberry Fizz Patterns Pack. Dies: (PTI) Sketched Shapes. Ribbon: Stampin' Up! Other: gems.)

I stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment several times in Stampin' Up's Pretty in Pink ink first, then added the same sentiment in PTI's Raspberry Fizz ink. The light pink shadows are really faint, but I like the look of layered sentiments. Three gems and a couple of die cut banners finish off the card.

That's it for me today! I am still recovering of Jack's birthday party... it was so much fun, but having that many kids at our house was crazy! Jack loved every second of it and that's what matters, right? 

 Have a great week!

Great Impressions Stamps | May Challenge

Happy Sunday, friends!

This month's Great Impressions Stamps challenge is... CELEBRATIONS!

(Supplies - Stamp: (Great Impressions) Elegant Motif. Ink: Impress. Cardstock: (Avery Elle) Green. (Stampin' Up!) Yellow, white. Patterned Paper: Papertrey Ink.  Stickers: Fancy Pants. Other: Buttons, gems, twine.)

That's it for me today! I need to get the house decorated for Jack's 4th birthday party... we have guests coming in just a few hours! 

Have a great week!

Pixels and Company | iNSD Creative Team Blog Hop

Good morning! I am so excited to be participating in the Pixels and Co. blog hop!

First up is a preview of the fabulous collaboration kit by the P&Co. Designers:

The designers used this kit to create a set of 59(!!) journaling cards that you can download for free! Just hop along to everyone on the list (in order!), collect the letters, and use the code to get your free cards. Here is a preview:

There are so many amazing kits in the Pixels & Co. shop, but here are my current top four:

April Storyteller Kit - Just Jaimee | Anywhere Buttons  - Karla Dudley | Life Defined - Karla Dudley | The Good Life Journaling Cards - Scotty Girl Designs

And of course I have to share a layout using some fun new kits by Tiffany Tillman and Karla Dudley Designs:

Make sure you hop in order so the coupon code works!

P&Co. Blog

Sarah Hemmert 
Katherine Hansen
Mandi Buchanan
Kate Christensen
Rachel Alles
Anna Drozd
Jan Fortier
Carey Bridges
Emilie Stevenson
Ronnie Crowley
Amy Kingsford
Jennifer Hignite
Celeste Smith
Melanie Ritchie
Aria Andrus
Jennifer Evangelista
Linda Roos
Christy Carlson
Barbara Unzen
Mary Rogers
Arielle Gordon
Jeryn Carlisi
Indah Permata Sari
Melanie Call
Jen Papadimitriou
Erin Taylor << you are here!
Kelly Mobley << go here next!
Kim Hammond
Wendy Bretz

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful National Scrapbook Day weekend!

Paper Smooches Sparks | Anything Goes Challenge

Hey there! I love it this week's challenge over at Paper Smooches... Anything Goes!

I used Papertrey Ink's Mat Stack 3 die to create a window on my card (using PTI's New Leaf cardstock). I stamped Paper Smooches' Gently Seasoned in Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Melon Berry, and Berry Sorbet ink. The "hello" is also from Gently Seasoned. I just love this stamp set. :) 

(Supplies - Stamps: (Paper Smooches) Gently Falling. Ink: (PTI) Dark Chocolate, Pure Poppy, Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, VersaMark. Cardstock: (PTI) New Leaf, White, Berry Sorbet. Embossing Powder: (Stampin' Up!) White. Other: Twine.)

I hope this card brightens your day! :)