Oh HAPPY DAY!!!

I got an honorable mention HERE on Nichole’s Blog for THIS card! I was very excited about that, and surprised. I have tons of ideas flowing for her next set, and alterable item’s.

I am stalking my mail man ALL next week! I have stuff coming form all over :D. PLUS it my wedding anniversary and we are going away, OVERNIGHT- WITHOUT THE KIDS! How cool is that!

We are going to a really nice restaurant-staying by the lake, and we will go bowling, mini golfing, go carts, and a actual drive in movie theater, where they show 2 movies! They have 4 screens so you have 8 movies to choose from-all current! YEAH!!!

I know BLAH BLAH BLAH-sorry its just been a good day. I figure I share the bad, may as well share the good-ESPECIALLY the good. Who wants to listen/read about a downer all the time,right? We all have our days, but some people are always gloom in doom. That makes me insane.

OK lets get to the card-

I LOVE the SU! set True Friend. Its such a pretty set. I have a few things I’ve made so far, but am holding onto them till later! Got to get you to come back right?

One will be used for my Saturday Sketch! So be sure to check in for that OK!

When I began stamping, I went into my stamp room, and pulled the window blind ALL the way up to let as much sunshine as possible. I planned on using this set-but was unsure what colors I’d put together.

As I opened the window I saw the prettiest yellow daisies! So I thought that would be my inspiration for this card! I dont use yellow alot, so thought it would be fun.

So here is my Dazzling Daisy Design

The feel/colors of the card reflects my happy mood 😀 Banana, choc. chip, old olive, Kraft.

Inks are all versamagic dew drops in various colors. Oh and some SU makers for the little dots.

Im LOVING my layout! LOL! I totally enjoy layering, and document ALL my sketches in a book. Great for those HIT A RUT times. I highly recommend it. You can just go through your own gallery at SCS and start jotting down some of your faves. I dont use other people’s Layouts in my book-only my own. WHY? Cause if you intentionally CASE someone you should give proper credit. I dont really ever CASE anyone, and if I did wouldnt want to forget who if I did. IF you do copy someones things-make sure you jot down their info. Its just common courtesy! Also DONT submit it for contest/publication. These are unwritten rules.

OK now that I shared that- I just got some Kraft color taffeta ribbon from SU! So HAD to incorporate that as well. What a great color of ribbon-FINALLY they added colors like that one. Im in love with the taffeta ribbon and have barely used grosgrain since the Martha Stewart stuff and now SU!

The sentiment is Absolutley Fabulous (ordered accidentally in place of Fabulous Flowers). I like it.

I liked the versamagic in yellow on the chocolate. Simple touch of detail that keeps with the flow. The piercing was done with my Onare Template.

Thats pretty much it.

I’ve been playing with my Bellas lately too. More on them tomorrow!!!

I have a little time for fun now. I just finished my last month on the SCS Dirty Dozen. Its sad for it to be over. I will miss it. I will especially miss the reveals, and excitement each month. All the girls are just amazing. Everyone works so hard-you’d never even believe the work that we put into each piece. This last month was difficult for me with the theme and family obligations and whatnot, so now there will be less stress as far as that goes. It was truly an honor to even be considered, let alone part of the team.

I really want to thank ALL of you, for making that possible, supporting the site, all your comments, and sharing. Thanks for visiting me here, and following me on this crazy journey.

Finding SCS is when I really began to grow as a stamper/artist. It cost me more money that I care to even acknowledge too! It also helped me “meet” so many wonderful PSF’s like you.

Stampers are wonderfully amazing people 😀 So thanks!

Till tomorrow……………………………………………………………………………………..

This photo was taken the other day. It was late, and Noah began flexing saying he has “big guns”! A term used by my brother, who is a professional arm wrestler! He was even on ESPN2 for a arm wrestling tournament. He is a HUGE all muscle guy. When we watched his tournament  on TV he would flex and yell “Yeah these are the big guns”-Oh boy! A term Noah quickly picked up on.

Noah say’s “Someday, Im gonna be big and strong just like daddy!” So we thought it would be cute to get them together.

I know someday he will be. I think this will be a great photo for “someday” It will be here before I know it!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

He looks so much like daddy! Noah and Jason have am amazing bond and relationship. I feel so blessed that my children are able to have such a wonderful father.

We didnt have a great dad. Never around. Alcholic. Enough said.

Im happy my kids will never know that life. I think especially for boys. I look at the stuff Noah is into and wonder how I would ever raise him alone.

Jason is Noah’s hero, and mine too!

This was when Noah was 8 months old. It was at one of his modeling photo shoots. Look at that baby face!

I wanted to make some quick and cute cards for my kids to give to their teachers for the First Day of School! Sort of a Welcome Back. I know Im excited cause this is the first year ALL 3 kids will be in school! Bad for my stamping budget (School shopping time), great for my sanity!

Click images to view larger

      Alexa  1st grade        Noah  Pre-K              Amber  Pre-K

That means 6 hours a week of MOMMY (aka MYTIME) time! Is that bad that I am so excited? I really dont feel guilty about it either :D. Im sure you can guess WHAT I will be doing……….(insert evil grin)

Alexa (God willing) will be in school full time, and back after 1 1/2 years off for her chemo treatments. Im praying she stay healthy! She will still have treatments throughout the next year, but we are hoping her immune system is stronger.

I am generally NEVER able to even think of doing stuff like that, but since having the Team Spirit theme for the SCS Dirty Dozen I was able to be in the mode to create these.

I was not into going ALL OUT! In other words making them dirty worthy. I wanted SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE, and CUTE. I especially hate reproducing cards so that was another reason for my design. AND if you want to make this for your kids or class room-its very easy!

When I saw the Daphne and Donald Back to School set I was giddy! I thought it was a way cuter version of Crayon Kids. At least thats what I thought.

So I went with the lunchbox theme.

Wanna make one?

All I did was make my card base-fold at the top.

Round the corners of the base, and inner mat.

For the handle- I used my Key tag punch. Simply punch the end of your cardstock first ( so inner handle part) then turn punch so you can see, punch the key tag shape. This will allow you to evenly align that hole for the handle.

In other words-dont just punch out the keytag shape then expect to be able to get the center punched out perfectly-wont happen! At least not stress free! make sense??

For the metal lunch box clip-I used a Making Memories decorative clip. Each clip matched the little shape on each of the kids back packs-cute eh? Its the little details!! No one probably even noticed that-but I do.

All the back packs are cut and on dimensionals. Very cute IRL!

I had these alpha stickers and they totally inspired by lunch box colors.

For the kids-I stamped them on the layers, then separately stamped the faces, colored/cut/pasted.

These took a maximum of 45 minutes for ALL 3! Now that is cool.

Hope the teachers like them.

FYI-You dont want to really WOW the teachers on the first day of school with an ultra awesome card or handmade gift item because that will set the bar high for the rest of the year! Not good.

So start simple that way if you have time, in the future the gift can get better and better. Unless you dont want to even let on you are crafty cause TRUST me they can suck the talent out of you through the year asking for you to make X cause you are SO CRAFTY!

Next thing you know you are sewing 22 Halloween treat bags for 3 year olds who upon receiving them try their darnedest to rip the cute handle off the bag, and pick their name off the front-

Yes I had a harsh experience!

Also-dont spend HOURS making tons of bag-a-lopes for that age group either, they dont care-they just want to rip it to shreds for the candy anyway! Save it for the adults! They are at least gracious enough to wait till you leave to rip it open 😀

Only 2 weeks and counting!

See you tomorrow. I have a sample done using my True Friends set-OMG! I LOVE that set!

I talk ALOT about INSPIRATION here on my blog. I constantly say get inspired by life and the things around you. Alot of you email and ask “Where do I begin to do that?” So I hope this post gives you the INSPIRATION (wink) to get INSPIRED!

I have made cards based from colors and patterns seen my daughters dress to  her undies! It really is everywhere! You just have to think how you can transform your source of inspiration into a CARD!  Heck I even got inspired by a Tissue box a while back!

Anyone remember THESE CARDS?

Click the link below-scroll to the very bottom on left, you will see the box I used to inspire my cards!

https://www.puffs.com/en_US/pages/products_plus.shtml 

Pretty cool huh? (stamp set was Looks Like Spring and Take Three by SU!) I used the versamark resist technique, on glossy white paper to recreate the box pattern to make my own patterned paper! Card on the left is simple, the one on the right is a stepped up version.

So to show you what I mean, again, I am taking a simpler way out by showing you this card.

I was totally inspired by my paper. The paper is gorgeous enough to stand on its own. In real life it sparkles like crazy! The Jolies Fleurs was perfect for this recreation because many of the stamps are similar to this paper (by K & Co.) I didnt over embellish and add all sorts of ribbon cause the glitter on the paper is enough. This card took less than 15 minutes. Cutting being the time consuming part. Again clean simple yet interesting.

Now for another bit of inspiration from my paper!

 I LOVED this paper by K & co.

So I used it as the focus of my design. Its a flat postcard style. The flap where the dragonfly is, opens to reveal your message. This set is Au Naturale. I stamped the dragon fly wings on another layer of vellum to make it 3D and shimmery! A lightly stamped flower image is behind the sentiment.

Now time for my card that was inspired by the card above.

I also want to show you its all about the photo! I am showing you the SAME card photographed twice-

Once in Natural Light

Here in a professional Photo Box set-up

close up leaf detail

What a difference a photo makes eh? I think I like the natural one best maybe cause its a nature themed card! LOL!

Now while its not exactly like the above patterned paper it was INSPIRED by it. So its all about inspiration-not always exact duplication.

I stamped the leaves from Au Naturale on glossy white cardstock in versmark ink, then sponged river rock, soft sky, and a shimmery light beige. I then stamped the leaf in beige brilliance ink.

I love the soft vellum overlay with the cutout on this. I colored this with my brilliance inks and my Fantastix brushes <—–click for tutorial. I love using that technique.

So that is the bottom line-get inspired by anything you like. It could be a commercial, laundry detergent-whatever. Be open to ideas from all over. Inspiration doesnt JUST have to come from a stamping magazine or another card someone else did-although that is perfectly fine too.

I guess I just want you to look around you, and learn how to incorporate your daily life into your crafting.

Sketch your ideas or colors of inspiration the moment you get a chance. I find this particularly helpful if Im in a stamping rut!

And that about does it for my “inspirational” post.

Tomorrow Ill share some School Themed cards that Im sending off with my kids the first day of school. Super cute, and super fast!!!

See you then 😀

My opinion on a great Christmas card is SIMPLE and CLEAN.This was our family Christmas card LAST YEAR! I LOVED it! And plan on doing a similar style THIS year.

I liked our kids photo and worked from there using Peaceful Wishes. Alot of people spend alot of $$$ on those photo cards. We just scanned our photo and printed 75 pictures. I made these in an HOUR! GO LAUREN!

I think a cool thing to invest in which keeps a professional look is a stamp (like above) with your names! Mine was from SU! It says

With Love, Jason, Lauren, Alexa,  Noah, and Amber.

This helps decrease the writing, and keeps it clean. I have messy handwriting! Especially after 75 cards! And I can use it year after year on ANY card. Cool huh? And IMO if people complain you didnt HAND sign it-YOU MADE THE CARD! What more could they want? Then you erase them from your Christmas list!

Oh and another thing-print your envelope addresses. You create a file and save it-even less writing!

OK more cards!

 I have a ton of awesome designs getting published this holiday season using some sets by Lizzie Anne, Green Grass Stamps, and MFT . I’ll get to share those at a later time.

You know the ones that got picked? Not the fancy ones, but the SIMPLEST ones! My point PROVEN! I had alot of success with my holiday submissions, as only 2 were rejected! Considering Im not one who submits alot-ever- that pretty good. And its going to pay for my kids Christmas this year!

Here are 2 rejects that were my favorites! LOL! Go figure!

 Wreathful Wishes

This one was my all time favorite! I LOVED it! But while it has a clean look its not necessarily SIMPLE to recreate. The window has acetate behind it, and inside you can see the Christmas tree! I used little A Muse stickers for the tree lights! How could this one be rejected? Oh well! It is posted in the Lizzie Anne Sketchbook too.

Sets are by Lizzie Anne Designs Christmas in the City (LOVE that set), and Glad Tidings.

here is the other one-Tree for Sale

This was simple, but maybe too funky for the mag’s to handle! Or maybe they didnt like it! GASP! You never want to think someone looks at ANYTHING you make and says YUCK! I loved it and thats all that matters! RIGHT?

 Hues of Gold

Now to this card! I HAD to HAVE Season of Joy! I just loved the look. I made the above card in less than 10 minutes. Now that is a Christmas card! The longest part was picking my design layout/idea! To recreate it would be maybe 3 minutes each-I swear!

It wont be my Christmas card for our family cause I like to use a photograph, but it could be made for a gift set!

I used RIVER ROCK! Holy non Christmas color-but with white and gold it totally works!

I love my flourish as the snow. Isnt it so purty?

Now onto the next one. I like to call this Blue Christmas!

Another super fast and simple design. The hardest part was the snow hill, and even that was super fast! I just used my CM wavy cutter-done! Another 15 minute card-again due to design idea taking the longest.

I plan on doing MORE with this set, but I think Ive given you some good ideas for now.

I am in a holiday mood-in AUGUST! Probably cause I swear I will NOT be running around like a mad woman getting gifts done last minute this year. I will say proudly that I did use alot of my alter-ables and made everyone a hand made gift last year! Given Alexa’s Chemo and stuff I think that was pretty awesome of me! (Patting myself on the back)! OK I know I sound horrible but when you accomplish a goal, its important to give yourself the good ole’ pat on the back you deserve! Nothing wrong with it!

And I ahve NO SHAME!

So I hope you get done whatever you need to this holiday season early! I am getting the kids Christmas photos done early September so I beat the rush of all you crazy other parents in November! And of course our cards will be designed, sealed and ready to go by Thanksgiving! I may even save some postage and hand deliver them to the family after dinner!

OK maybe thats too tacky.

Enjoy the day.

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

OK I know you are probably sick of my smilebox creations but I cant help myself! I love this super easy way of documenting memories with no time taken away from my stamping! So you dont have to read or click, but Im sharing anyway 😀

TODAY is Amber’s actual birthday! My baby is THREE! OMG! I cannot believe it!

Today we are going to visit the Pre-School she will be starting the end of the month. She is the happiest little thing to be going to school. She is excited to get her own friends, and be Big like Alexa and Noah (as she puts it)

Amber is an OLD 3. I dont know if its because she’s the third child, or if everything that has gone on with Alexa, that she is like the second Mommy in the house.

If you aks Amber how old she is she will quickly tell you 5! I keep telling her she is 3, but she doesn’t agree! Its really funny.

She is bossy, and a tattler. She will think nothing of putting one of her siblings in time out.

She grew up so fast after Alexa was diagnoised, and kows about things that most people dont even ever have to deal with in their life. She is such a sweet little girl. I am blessed.

She is also in LOVE with money! Smart girl! She got this $5 bill for her b-day. I think it was her favorite gift! She carries it in her pocketbook (yes she carries several) and even has her own make-up! YIKES!

She knew right wehn she saw it that it was $5!

The other day she went up to Jay and cocked her head to the side, and sweetly said, while holding out her hand “Daddy can I have $5 PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!” and litterally batted her eyes! And ya know what-it worked! Im going to have to start havin her ask for money I want! Or she needs to up her anty! LOL!

Time really does fly by.

Anyway another thing I thought Id share is our time blueberry picking yesterday. It was alot of fun.

Enjoy. I know people dont enjoy this as much as I do. But its fun to share. I swear it does inspire me to think about scrapping! Only I would CASE these!

Blueberry Picking

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

While I was visiting Jen’s Blog, I saw this quiz. While Im not normally into that stuff I find they can be pretty true! So I answered all the questions with brutal honesty and this was my reading:

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Pretty fun huh? Let me know if you take it. It only takes a minute.

Another thing I LOVE- Fairies!

Fairies are like semi-human magical butterflies, so of course I LOVE fairies. I have been wanting to use this set for a LONG time. I actually have a cool idea for this set but have yet to implement it. My deadlines got in the way , and then the new sets in the mail! You know what I mean. Im sure we all have a MUST HAVE set that we never got around to using, then we forget about it.

Id love to hear of a set you HAD to have and have yet to use. I unfortunately have ALOT of those! LOL! BUT I am challenging myself to use them over the next few weeks.

Why is it when Im dying for Happy Mail, that I dont pull out these sets? I think I will start trying that.

Well I finally got to make something with it! I have used the sentiment before just not the Fairy image. Isn’t she pretty?

She is from the Princess Birthday set by MFT Stamps. I stamped her with Brilliance ink in graphite black (fabulous for using with Copic Markers), and colored with my Copic Markers. I then added stickles to her wings and star wand.

The patterned paper is very glittery, and is by K & co. A GORGEOUS stack let me tell you! I liked the vellum overlay to soften it all. The castle was stamped 3 times so its more like a KINGDOM.

You cant use fairies and NOT use prima’s! Its an unwritten rule.

Well I hope you have a Fairy nice day. hehehe

We are going Blueberry Picking today! Or at least thats the possible plan.

See you back here tomorrow.

Who would have thought that “I” would get 2 nominations! LOL!

Rita from HERE, was so sweet to nominate me as one of the 5 people for both awards! As I checked out her nominations I found people with blogs that I had never known about and they are great!

So thanks Rita for the kind words and helping me discover new talent out there 😀

The nice matters award is for someone who you think is kind and thoughful.

The thinking award is for those of you who know someone whose creations or chatter makes you think.

So now its my turn to nominate 5 bloggers for this! I have such a hard time doing this! I know so many of you that are wonderful! Its really hard to choose JUST 5. AND  Alot of you, yourselves dont have blogs. So just know if you dont have a blog-you still rock in my books!

As far as the thinking awards I really feel each of you inspires all of us in some way! As I said in a previous post about publishing yourself every time you upload.

So my theory is if you stop by here and read, feel free to link yourslef in the comments! Then people can feel free to check you out! Then you can say “I” nominated YOU, and put the above awards on your site.

I REALLY cant pick just 5. I do have a blogroll of people that I check in on when time allows (which these days is like not much).

So link away!

And thanks for checkin in 😀

I thought this would be a simple yet fun sketch!

I used the Make A Wish set by Gina K. I love how it can be elegant, or fun and funky! I like this card alot. I was thinking teen girl! The paper you have seen here before! Its Hippie Chick by SEI. I really LOVE SEI! Its probably my favorite company for paper.

I basically stamped my image, colored with Copic Markers, and then added stickles. This was a quick card-like 12 minutes!! Now that is pretty good 😀 I think all the layers make it look like it took longer. Thats the key to a great card-make it LOOK like it took forever!

Im big on tying ribbon like this. I just love the look. I did it on one card like a year ago and have loved it ever since. I used a pink, and aqua sheer organdy ribbon from Michaels for this one. HAD to add silver cord.

I hope you try this sketch. I would love for you to share it here if you do. We would all love to see your take on it.

I would also love for you to share a wish YOU have with me. It can be anything-for a product, your family, a goal- whatever you want. I totally LOVE hearing form the people who stop by here to check in, and getting to know them.

My wish

I would LOVE to get a card/project on the COVER of a magazine. It was my only goal that I did not accomplish for this year. That and losing more weight, but hey its an ongoing battle right. I will say though (while time is ticking) that Im OK with NOT accomplishing that because I have accomplished many other things that I had not set out to do! Its been a great year!

 I was the inspiration for the cover of one Stampin Success magazine! It just wasn’t MY creation, it was their version of mine. So it doesnt count.

Your turn!