Taylor's Sketch Challenge #129

Good evening! Ah, it's Thursday. And I always love Thursdays because it means that tomorrow is FRIDAY! Woohoo! I have a nice, relaxing weekend planned, full of absolutely nothing! No weddings, no baby showers, no birthdays, no special events... Just the chance to be home, stamping, reading, cooking (baking!). Heaven!


I'm back again with a card to share with you. And, yes, it's a baby card. I just can't get baby off of the brain! My aunt facebooked me a few days ago to ask if I would make the invitations for my cousin's baby shower this November. Of course I said yes! So excited! Then, in addition, my old college roomie is going to be staying with us for a few nights early next week... The same one that just told us she's pregnant! I can't wait to spoil that kid rotten. Both mom and dad are big Packers fans (as they should be), and I had promised eons ago that when they had a baby I would be the good aunt and supply the child with Packers gear. Heeee!

Needless to say, the Packers' Pro Shop loves me. :) I'm just hoping things begin to arrive before C & J are here next week so that I can give them an advanced spoiling!

So, this card will eventually go to them. Probably next week... Because my willpower to hold onto it (and the football goodies!) is close to nothing.

Following this week's sketch from Taylor's Sketch Challenge, I used some October Afternoon Thrift Shop dp on this card, along with lots of Spring Moss, and polka dots. Polka dotted edge punch, buttons, dp, elephant.... It's polka dot heaven! The whole time I was making that little paper pieced elephant, I kept singing, "Hephalumps and Woozles." You know, from Winnie the Pooh. The little elephant totally looks like a Hephalump! Perhaps I've been spending too much time at Disneyland, hehe (Winnie the Pooh ride, Fantasmic, etc).

I stamped the elephant twice, once onto the cream and again onto the dp. The sentiment is arched over the circle for a bit of dimension (plus, this most definitely is not being mailed!), so some taller poppage was all right.

Poppage. I think I just made that word up. ;)

The ribbon is folded all fancy since I couldn't figure out where to put a bow, but definitely felt the card needed a little bit of ribbon. I also added some white gel pen polka dots around the perimeter of my new nestie die (lovin' this thing!!!). A few tiny buttons in the corner, and voila! One cute card for C & J!

That's it out of me for tonight. Off to catch some Bones and Fringe! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Bitty Baby Blessings
Paper- Aqua Mist, Spring Moss, Very Vanilla, October Afternoon Thrift Shop dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, Ocean Tides

Accessories- ribbon, buttons, tea dye stains, white gel pen, EK Success edge punch, nestabilities

Viva la Verve!

Good evening! Four days. Four cards. I am so enjoying spending time back in the stamping studio. I so missed this... the soft music playing (usually show tunes!), the house to myself (the roomie's still at work), and a rainbow of cardstock before me. My heart is happy.



I am hopelessly behind on this month's Viva la Verve challenges. Let's just leave it at this was the 5th week, and all five cards are due by tomorrow. All you need to do is looking over on the right side at my history this month to see just how many VLV challenges I made it through. Oh, well. I'll pick it back up in October. At least I got one done this month, right?!

I was immediately drawn toward the second of the three inspiration pictures. Those fall colors, the red well, those pillows. Be still my heart! It may be my dream living room! My living room colors are of the same theme. I love fall colors... the deep rusty colors. I pulled out more of my Autumn Abundance dp and got to work. The leaf is rock-n-rolled in Orange Zest and Cranberry Crisp (remember that color?!), and framed with some heavy tea dye staining. A simple ribbon, and chocolate chip sentiment finished it off.

OK, warning. Total bunny trail coming right now. On Monday it was beyond ridiculously hot down here in So Cal. My home thermometer recorded 114F. Boiling, right? It was also bone dry... The kind of day where you feel the need to put lotion on every five minutes, except you are sweating so much that you feel all slimy if you do! It's a lose-lose situation. Now, fast forward two days. It's Wednesday. It was only in the 90s today, but super humid. The jungle-y, clammy, tropical kind of humid. And to top it all off, we're building up to an amazing thunder storm. It is literally beginning to thunder as I type and looks quite evil outside. Isn't weather random? But I LOVE weather! LOVE! Not the super hot kind, just weather in general. I love that it is out of our control.... That we just have to roll with the punches... That it can change in the blink of an eye. Seriously, if you ever want to know the forecast, I'm your gal. It's an obsessive habit. I think it has something to do with growing up in the mountains where I had to know the weather to find out if I could even get to school, work, home, etc. I am beginning to suspect that I may have been a meteorologist in a past life.

Let's just leave it at, "If the whole teaching thing doesn't work out, I'll go back to school and study weather!" :)

How was that for a bunny trail? And so, I leave you now (before my computer dies from a lightning strike!). Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- Verve: Harvest Blessings, Great Friend
Paper- Kraft, Terracotta Tile, Scarlett Jewel, Whisper White, Autumn Abundance dp
Ink- Orange Zest, Cranberry Crisp, Chocolate Chip
Accessories- ribbon, tea dye stains

Mojo Monday

Brace yourselves. This is three days in a row. Crazy! I loved this week's Mojo Monday sketch and decided it was high time to tackle a round card again. I so rarely do this as circles and I have a history... And it isn't pleasant, lol. But the circle was calling my name. Weird, eh?

I totally had a purple craving after playing around with Lavendar Moon a two days ago. It was definitely necessary to make a purple monochromatic card. I absolutely love Rich Razzleberry and Pale Plum together. It may be one of my favorite combos. It's right up there with greens and blues.

I got some new nesties in the mail yesterday, and decided to break them in. It's an apron lace punch, but in a circle! How fun is that?! I also got the matching squares.

I only used a newer Verve set on this card, Great Friend. I stamped the large branch image in Pale Plum all over the PP cardstock. The flower was stamped twice, once in Riche Razzleberry onto RR cardstock, and the second time in Pale Plum onto PP cardstock. I mixed up some crystal effects and glitter (a little sparklie trick I learned from Julee!), and covered the top flower. It's so shimmery! So shimmery, that I had to go back with a white gel pen when it was dry and retrace the lines of the flower. It looked like one big glittery blob before! Some twine, a few pearls, and a simple sentiment finished it off.

It's Taco Tuesday here in our house, and we're heading out for some dinner at a local Mexican Restaurant. $1.25 for tacos and all the chips & salsa you can eat! We love Taco Tuesday! I can already taste the salsa.... Yum!

Have a lovely evening! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-

Stamps- Verve: Great Friend

Paper- Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Cottage Wall dp

Ink- Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum

Accessories- twine, pearls, nestabilities, crystal effects, glitter, white gel pen

Fall to Layout

Good morning. I'm back with another card. I know, right? Two days in a row! This may be a record for September, lol.

I warned you that this card isn't quite up to par yet. But it's getting closer. Maybe I'll get crafty tonight and have something a little closer to my normal. Despite the extreme heat outside today (can you say hello 109 degree heat?), I'm still feeling fall-ish. Fall colors, fall leaves, cool weather (oh how I miss you!)... I love fall! I pulled out some fall themed dp and got down to business. Oh, and I used the "Fall" to layout sketch from two weeks ago, teehee.

I stamped the leaves in Orange Zest and then rock-n-rolled it in Really Rust for some dimension. Some tiny brown jewels scattered around added a little bit of sparkle. I even distressed the edges of this card (and you all know how often I distress edges... almost never!) to give it more of a fall feeling.

Well, that's it for today. Short and sweet. Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Everyday Button Bits, Turning a New Leaf
Paper- Kraft, Very Vanilla, Teracotta Tile, Autumn Abundance dp
Ink- Orange Zest, Really Rust

Accessories- twine, button, tea dye stains, dimensionals, apron lace punch, brown jewels

Sweet Sunday Sketch

Good afternoon. Can you believe it? I'm actually posting. I know, I know. It's been forever! My only excuse is the tiredness induced by adjusting to the working life once more. You'd think after a few years I would get over the extreme tiredness at the beginning of the school year, but no. I've been home. I've just had literally no energy when I get home. Bed times have been embarrassingly early for one in her twenties. My bf would call me a school marm. Ah, life. But I am determined to snap out of the "beginning of the school year" funk. Time to stamp! Time to stay up past 9pm!

The school year has been wonderful so far. I love my new class! And I'm definitely enjoying the whole "hey, I remember this from last year" experience. Having everything not be new is such a relief. And I have a fabulous new teammate to work with and plan with and scheme with.... It's going to be a good year, I can just feel it.


Well, my card for you today is one I actually thought about not posting. It's the "I haven't stamped in forever and have absolutely no mojo" card. Know what I mean? I did make one card about a week ago, but gave it away before I took a picture of it! I know, fired. It was super cute, too. It went to my cousin's daughter whom just turned 8. I was totally channeling my inner third grader when I made it. Think pink and glittery. :)

This card is for today's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge over on Karen Giron's blog. As of this moment, it hasn't gone live, but she did post it over on facebook. So, being Sunday, I didn't think it would be too taboo to go ahead and post it. Karen challenged us to look back through the Sweet Sunday Sketches and choose a favorite. Well, I wouldn't say this is a favorite, exactly... (Shhh! Don't tell Karen!), but it is one that I just can't remember ever doing. So why not tackle it now? It's a good idea. Right?

I also used the colors from Maureen's WaCCky challenge. The colors were, well.... Green. Maureen, I did use Ripe Avocado. It's the buttons. I just couldn't put the RA and New Leaf together without squirming, lol. I so heart Lavender Moon. I am totally feeling the need to make a purple card now.


And, as you can see, I still have babies on the brain. I know I've said this before, but it seems like everyone I know if pregnant right now! And I learn about a new one everyday. I guess it's that season in life. Everyone got married and now the kids are coming. One of my dearest friends and college roommate just called us this morning to let us now she and her husband are pregnant. So excited for them! I can just see her husband with a little girl. He would be such a good girl daddy. Congrats C & J!

The card is pretty self-explanatory. I punched some of the corners to add a little "something," some white gel pen stitching (a sewing machine is first on my purchase list when I get paid on Friday! Woohoo!), and some saddle stitch ribbon. It feel a bit like too many patterns threw up on the card, imo. But, it's done. And I stamped.... For the first time in 2 weeks. I've got to get my feet wet somehow, lol. Tomorrow's card will be better, I promise. Well, at least it's a bit better. I think. You'll see. I'm not quite back in my groove, but heading in the right direction.

Thanks so much for hanging in there during my long silence! It's good to be back. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- PTI: Bitty Baby Blessings
Paper- Whisper White, Hawaiian Shores, Pretty Pastels dp, Green Boutique dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories- ribbon, dimensionals, corner punch, white gel pen, buttons

Mojo Monday & Verve Project Parade

Good afternoon! I'm back and rested on this lovely 3-day weekend. This may be the best Monday of the whole school year, lol. It was wonderful to sleep in a bit this morning, run a few quick errands, bake some banana bread (the house smells amazing!), and make a card or two. If only every Monday could be like this.


This week's Mojo Monday sketch caught my eye, and after checking it out was even more excited to remember that this week is contest week! Woohoo! I initially thought those three irregular vertical panels were a little strange, but after cutting and gluing them, I've changed my mind. I like how the one on the right is thin, etc. I decided to use a few Verve stamps on my card so that I could also play along with Verve's Project Parade. The challenge this month is "Something Old and Something New." I used some of my brand-spankin' new stamps from this last release along with some older stamps to me. Does a year old count old stamps?!

I really wanted to make a Baby Shower card for my cousin's wife whom is due is just about one month. We're having a family shower for her in about two weeks, and I've been itching to create a card for her. I think the shower gift shopping this morning tipped me over the edge. Now, unfortunately, I don't really have any Verve baby themed stamps (How in the world did THAT happen?!), so I improvised with a little "Wishing You" stampage. The inside of the card is stamped with "a lifetime of happiness." That works, right? A lifetime of happiness with the new little one... Work with me here.

I paper pieced the balloons and the little star accents. I also glittered both of the stars to give them a little bit of shine. And I did cheat a little bit... I needed to run the ribbon behind the circle instead of in front so it wouldn't cover the sentiment.

That's all for today. It's off to barbecue with the roomie. Chicken kabobs, yum! And we bought this really fun blooming onion cutter at the fair yesterday and are going to give it a try. Wish us luck! The best of luck to those of you starting back to work in the classroom tomorrow (or getting rid of kids, lol)!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamps- Verve: Birthday Bash, Wishing You
Paper- Pure Poppy, Ocean Tides, Whisper White, Pretty Pastels dp, Bitty Dots dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories- ribbon, twine, glitter, dimensionals, nestabilities, hole punch, tea dye stains

Fun at the Fair

Good evening, everyone. I took a much-needed day off from life today to go to the Los Angeles County Fair today. I always look forward to this trip every year. I love seeing all the animals, cruising through all of the vendors, catching some unique shows, and eating some rather unhealthy food. :)

Amy and I went to church on Saturday night so that we would have lots of time for the fair today. There was a special admission price for opening weekend, but only from 10:00-1:00pm. The it went up almost $20! Eek! I'm all for some cheap, good fun.

Here are a few pictures from our adventures earlier today.

Not really Mexico... But there were some A-Mazing flowers in this room!

Sheep! Love the petting zoo. Every. Single. Year.

Fun Fact: Each human hair can hold approximately 3oz of weight. Therefore, if you put all the hairs on your head together, a prince could climb up them!

Looking a little bit oompa loompa-ish.

And lastly, we found this gorgeous lady just begging us to take a picture with her. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #89

Good afternoon, everyone! I'm back. I'm alive. I'm tired beyond belief. :)

I have officially survived the first week of school. 5 days down, 173 to go! I seem to have a great bunch of kids this year, and I'm so excited to get to know them and watch them grow not only academically, but as little people. I've got a full 20 kids, which is wonderful. As long as no one moves away, I won't get any new students beyond this group.

The week went quickly, and successfully. I had forgotten how absolutely TINY first graders are at the beginning of the year. They're sooooo little! Both in height and maturity. I've got reversed letters when writing, kids looking at me like I'm crazy when I ask the to write a sentence, and kids still learning the alphabet. Ah, the beginning of the year. But it's so full of potential! But these kids being so little also meant that I never had a moment to sit and breathe. There was absolutely no sitting down from the moment I hit the school grounds in the morning until I made it to my car at the end of the day. Bedtime came a little bit earlier (let's just say it averaged 8:30pm, lol).

So, sleeping in a bit this morning felt wonderful. And sitting down to actually stamp felt even better! (And it's waaaay too hot to go outside. It was 101F by 11:30 this morning, and is now tipping the thermometer at 106F. Boo!) We're in for a major cool down starting tomorrow, which will be most welcome.

I think a few of us girls are going to head to the Los Angeles County Fair tomorrow, as well! So excited! I love the going to the fair each year. Cruising all of the vendors, drinking icees, eating really terrible-for-you food. It's opening weekend, so there's a special $1 admission from 10am-1pm tomorrow (instead of the normal $17), so we are hitting the sale! I'm down with cheap fun!



All right, enough catching up with my life. On to the card! I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch as my layout, but I did shrink it down into an A2 card size. I just don't have special elongated envelopes. Maybe someday... I was cruising through blogs this morning and settled in for a good read over at Nichole Heady's blog. She posted a bunch of pictures from CHA and the Papertrey booth. I was absolutely inspired by their wardrobe (weird?), especially those aprons. It looked like a card using Ocean Tides, Simple Chartreuse, Black, and White was in order.

I stamped the Simply Chartreuse layer with my woodgrain stamps in Ocean Tides. The white panel is embossed, and then lightly rubbed in some Kiwi Kiss ink. It is kind of hard to tell, but I also added some black diamond stickles to the ends of the tree for a little sparkle. They blend in too well in this picture. But trust me, they're sparklie!

Well, that's it from me for the moment. It's a 3-day weekend for us down here (and for LOTS of us out there!), so I'm going to enjoy some fair time, stamping time, reading time, and sleeping time. And maybe once it cools down, some baking time. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies-
Stamp- PTI: Background Basics Woodgrain, Beyond Basic Borders
Paper- Whisper White, Basic Black, Simply Chartreuse, Bitty Box dp
Ink- Memento Tuxedo Black, Kiwi Kiss

Accessories- ribbon, scallop edge punch, stickles, dimensionals, embossing folder