I decided to attempt the Sunday Sketch over at CPS. I decided to go with the travel theme!

This is my “Bonjour From Paris” post card.

I used my Sizzix post card die cut to make a “postcard”.

This is a view of the postcard-close up

 click for larger view

I decided to flip the sketch  on to the side. So my postcard is the panel-slanted.

Instead of the 4th square, I placed the heart tag from Making Memories tag rims.

 click for larger view

The images at the bottom are suppose to be like “stamps”, that I made using a hole punch, and some square punches.

 Click for a closer view.

Isn’t this cute? I was SO HAPPY with it! I love PARIS themed stuff so Oh La La was PERFECT for this idea. I also used Simply Sentiments, and L’Amour. All found at Lizzie Anne.

The paper is by DCWV-its a glitterfied paper, that is really pretty! I used Pixie Pink for the pink accent color. My Sakura Glitter pen colored the items and added some sparkle with out going overboard!

The ribbon is by Autumn leaves, and the whimsical swirl and flower was perfect for the style of the set.

I hope they like my submission! You can never go wrong with pink & black

OK I wrote this on Saturday-but forgot to post it! So if its not raining and its not the weekend dont worry about it!  I couldnt access my photo editing so put up the ” Do you know how to Fake it post” instead! I hope you try it and tell me how it works for those of you who havne’t “faked it” yet! LOL!

I was happy to see I got another honorable mention—-> HERE! YEAH! So close yet so far away from winning! LOL! Congrats to everyone! I feel really lucky to even get a mention considering there were over 450 enteries! WOW! The winner herself sent OVER 50! WOW! And people say “I” stamp alot! I do try to stamp daily, but dont think I make 50 cards in a month! Let alone with One/Two sets!

OK back to the post!

so in case you forgot the title was

THINK SNOW!

Or in our case RAIN RAIN RAIN. Noah’s soccer game is cancelled. I’m bummed, cause he was excited to go, and I was excited to watch!

So poor me- instead,I get to stamp! LOL!

I just love the Cat’s Pajamas  clear and swanky sets! As I posted previously, I got all three! I only wish there were tiny snowflakes in the sets. Yes, I do own little snowflakes but wanted to keep with using JUST the CP sets.

When I saw this Chimney image I felt it needed a HOUSE!  So I whipped out my scalloped giga rectangle, trimmed out the soft sky piece. I also crimped a piece of vellum cardstock, and attched under the scallop roof for the house! Having the set be clear really enabled me to stamp the dog perfectly onto the roof WITHOUT stress or a stamp-a-ma-jig. So that was nice.

I saw the idea for icicles HERE. I didnt use the technique, but the idea was really cool, and perfect for my project-so I just used my stickles instead! I also thought it would be a cool thing to share, since I came across it and was WOW’ed!

This card took maybe 20 minutes. Not too shabby! Another great winter hello card!

Yes, I am aware its NOT Saturday-its Friday eve. Im busy ALL day tomorrow-so decided to post early. 

Click thumbnail to view larger version. This sketch serves as an inspiration point. As you play around feel free to mix it up as you wish-you will see I did this with my samples as well!

Boy did I get carried away today! I drew up this sketch, then went to town!

Not only is this sketch meant for 3 images , but I did three samples too. I like how my samples are each different enough to show you a couple takes on the sketch itself. You can have it simpler, or add lots of detail-its all up to YOU how basic you want to keep it.

If you try it out, send me a link in the comments section-that way I can visit your creation and other readers can have a peek too!

Penguins at Play

 If you know me you know I LOVE penguins! LOVE them! They are like my butterflies of winter!

So when the Cat’s Pajama’s released their clear swanky sets—->here  I went NUTS! I had to have all 3 sets! What a deal they are too! Im so in love with their images. There are many more to come-so keep checkin in!

This set is the Kitty Christmas. Basically I was inspired by the ribbon I got at Target-DOLLAR SPOT! HELLO! Superlicious deal! Target has like the best dollar spot EVER.

colors-soft sky, banana, celery, rose red, regal rose

I had to use yellow in my Christmasy/wintery card after seeing Stefanie’s card —->here.

Penguins are colored with my Copic’s, and stickles (crystal ice is my favorite and most used one)made the snow. The chipboard sticker is also Target $1 spot. Cute eh?

Next Up-Cold Elements!

This card uses another favorite Christmas set of mine called Christmas in the City. Its by Lizzie Anne, and I have quite a few items using this set that will soon be published Really cute! Im so glad winter is sorta long so I get some good use from these sets!

My focus was WINTERY hellos, not necessarily CHRISTMAS cards-cause then Im limited as to what I can do with them. Not that I ever really MAIL them to anyone! Naughty!!!

Well the ribbon and colors are the same as above! Ribbon from Target! Lots of GLITTER! I used another chipboard piece from that set as well! Isn’t this so cute? A little different take on the sketch.

Daisy Dance

 Last but not least, my simple version!

PINK! I love pink! I wanted fast, and simple-this was a under 10 minute card EASY! I already had my sketch in mind-so the rest fell into place.

This just used some GORGEOUS Esprit Prima’s as the focus! What more do you really need?

For the flower centers I punched some vellum cardstock using my Spring Bouquet punch from SU! Added some adhesive Rhinestones-

Ribbon is by SEI!

The butterfly is another one of those SCRUMPTIOUS Heidi Swap Ghost shapes-only butterflies! HELLO! AWESOME! Used some stickles for the butterfly body so it wasnt clear. I use glue dots to adhere these. No show adhesive!

The sentiment is by SU! Stem Sayings-love that set. It was perfect for this, and it was stamped with a brilliance ink in orchid

WHEW! That was alot for one little post! Hope you like the sketch! I have a crazy weekend!

Hope you get to enjoy your time as fall creeps through. Do you realize we are smack in the MIDDLE of September?! OMW! Where are the days going?

Thanks for reading. Cant wait to see what YOU do.

Anyone staying up for the Paper Trey Ink reveal? You know I am!

Till tomorrow-

Well this week the idea was to take an item of inspiration, and create something!

Well I have wanted to get inspired by this Address book I have had for years (obviously its pretty worn out), and thought NOW was as good a time as any! I pretty much much cased the entire thing!

 here is a close view of the card itself

I always loved the colors, and the layout. It was fun to finally use it! Love layering, and this was a great layered look! I used Garden Whimsy for this card.

colors-PT white, pomegranate, celery, pink, banana, guava

The brads were colored with Sharpies, cause I had NO pomegranate brads. Had to add something extra! It didnt seem very “balanced” other wise. For an adress book it was OK, a card made by me-not so much!

Wanted to keep the ribbon subtle-so used a sheer polkadot by May Arts.

I hope you like it, and it inspires YOU to get inspired by ANYTHING  this weekend. Be sure to check my blogroll-for the other Sketch Challenge participants-you can play along just link your creation in one of our comment sections!

Come back tomorrow-cause that is my Saturday Sketch!

This is my story, of the making of the dreaded Masculine card! (Think law and order begining with the music-LOL!)

I made this card for Jason’s Grandpa. He just has a birthday, and once again I am LATE getting a card out! I think its also the expectation that I will always pop out some fantabulous creation that makes me un-motivated to make a card sometimes. At least I know its appreciated

I really struggle with masculine style cards-ALOT! Not cause I “can’t” I just dont like to make them as much! Im all girly flowery kinda stuff. Dont get me wrong-boy cards can be fun and cute-and I ahve done some guy stuff Im proud of its just not always my first choice!

I thought for a masculine card I would do the NORMAL, ole standby’s- leaves, or Lovely as a tree, and then I remember this set Lets Hear it for the Boys! How PERFECT!!!! This is a total grandpa scene! Seriously!

All he is missing is the grandpa belly

If you look in the set you’ll see a sentiment that says “grandparents”, I simply just inked “grandpa” instead.

He loves to fish so I had to add the fishy plaque! I so should have made the fish a darker green and I am now killing myself over that detail-but oh well! There is a gellyroll glaze pen over it so it looks all taxidermed and stuff too.

The paper is an old mat stack by K & co. I love their line of products-LOVE IT!!

The rug is flocked (love flocking stuff too)

Of course its colored with myCopic markers.

So thats about it for details. Now all I need to do is actually MAIL it! Its been sitting here for 4 days now!

I’d love to hear what you love for masculine sets! Im always looking to expand my collection.

 Princess Alexa

Planning for  a Princess is hard work!

Alexa has dreamed about having this Princess party since last year! Finally I will be able to make all these “plans” happen.

We are going to have a “costume” party so each girl will come dressed in Princess attire! They will decorate crowns, make jewelry, and decorate their own jewelry boxes!

They will then feast on a Castle cake, have a pinata, and some ice cream.

Birthday’s in my house are HUGE!

Especially Alexa’s!

EVERY year I ball my eye’s out when we sing happy birthday to her! I think because since I was pregnant I was always fighting for her-to be here-alive and well. Each year Im thankful for her, and am so emotional.

She amazes me with what she overcomes every year, and that little feeling that we are never guaranteed  NEXT year -wth anyone- always hits.

She is a fighter-always has been. I cannot believe all she has done in her little 8 years of life. What she has taught me, and changed in me as a mother and person.

I am so thankful to have her-another year.

So back to the big bash!

We are of course going with the Princess theme. My thought for the invites was like a scroll-you know like one you would get a long time ago for a invite to the ball.

Well, as suggested, I had to incorporate Alexa’s set-so came up with this idea. Remember the key being simple! These only took me 1 hour!!!!! Not including drying time for the stickles!

 They are modified scrolls!

The invite inforamtion is printed on computer paper, rolled up, and placed through a cardstock “holder” I designed, so they stand, and wont get squished.

  click photo to enlarge

 I also thought it would be better than just tying with some ribbon. Think getting sent home in a childs backpack! Oh the horror!  So I wanted pretty and detailed but not so much so that when these are trashed I wont want to cry!

Alexa LOVES pink, and chose Pixie Pink for the colors.

I used stickles on the dress, and star adhesive Rhinestones (from A Muse) for her “crown”.

The invite reads the following-

Today is the day! You can now order from Lizzie Anne’s NEW! Release sets! There are 8 new set releases, and 16 new simply singles! AND they are all CUTE!!!!!!!!

Speaking of ordering-have you seen that All That Scraps has new Primas in? Basic Grey paper, Cats Pajamas, Sassafras Las Owl set and OMW! So much more! I placed my order yesterday so happy mail here I come!

OK-sorry you know I cant let you NOT know about cool stuff right?

I am going to show you a few samples from some sets I have yet to use! They are all part of the new releases available TODAY!

 Little snowmen

How cute are these snowmen? They are from the simply singles line-as are the snowflakes I stamped on vellum cardstock.

Simple card.

WHY?

WHOreally goes ALL OUT on mass producing holiday cards? NOT “I”! And thats what I’m lovin these days-clean, and simple, yet still detailed. I thought about adding a few brads-but haven’t decided yet…………….its better to add later or keep it clean rather than clutter and over do! This is a small main image and I dont want to detract your focus from that either!

 Circle of snowmen

Here is another quickie card, using the new Simply Singles-snowmen, and the set Holiday Cheer. I just punched out the snowmen (see full image above) I wanted with my circle punch, and covered the words with some wavy cut cardstock! Added some stickles and done!

 Funky Fun Cheer!

Do these colors not scream Holiday Cheer! This is so retro! I love these trees from the Holiday Cheer set! Just colored with my SU! Markers, and I was done. OK I know I HAD to add some stickles and some of those adhesive rhinestones-its a bad habit that I just LOVE to hate.

The POP of the sentiment in black is perfect-and I like the funky tab closure. The ribbon in by American Crafts in UPTOWN collection-love these different Christmas/Holiday colors.

And that my friends is it for today!

Hope you get to order! Id LOVE to hear what is your favorite new Lizzie Anne set!

Mine is shockingly High Hellos, and L’Amour.

I LOVE the Floral Frenzy but am having a serious block when it comes to ideas-EEEK! Not cool!

I’d alos love to hear what you think you will use for your Christmas cards this year! Any ideas?

I am clueless! Gotta get the kids photos done first!

 Just Words

I love the new Just Words set that Lizzie Anne is releasing! Given my missing mojo-I thought using my favorite words altogether in a set would inspire me-and it did!!! How ALL occasion can this card be right!

Especially for a little pick me up! Sometime people who are dealing with touch times need a card that isnt so dreary, and rears a message of HOPE!

I LOVED this ribbon I got at Michaels literally years ago. I used it to inspire my design. Jolies Fleurs is just the perfect match. I also used So Swirly (all Lizzie Anne sets)

I stamped the flower on choc. chip cardstock, and embossed it with white embossing powder. Colored the center with my Lumiere, then cut out the inner petals, using my tool taxi-that idea was taken from another card I did——> HERE  Trimmed out the flower, then added the BLING, and the flower was done.

I attached the ribbon through my tab punch.

Very detailed, yet clean all at the same time-I think. I was quite happy with how this turned out. I especially LOVE using colors I dont normally pull out-such as olive, and being happy with the results.

I especially love feeling like I can stamp again. I made a few other cards-but the sets aren’t being released till the end of the month!

MFT Stamps is releasing FIVE sets October First! Holy Moly! I better get stamping!!!! I ahve a lot to do.

ONE set is going to be for a special cause! Check it out———-> HERE

Speaking of causes………………….

 This box of cards is going postal this week! I told you I am sending most of my card to Cards for Cancer! I packed them all in there as tight as I could! LOL!

I am also going to be speaking at our area local radio station at a fundraiser for the childrens Cancer Center at Dartmouth and CHAD on the 17th! They are looking and hoping to raise $20,000! I will speak of Alexa’s experience. Almost like the St. Jude’s commercials you hear on the radio that make you ball your eyes out (at least I did and that was even BEFORE I had kids let alone became one of those parents).

I always dreaded being one of those “commercials” but that fact is we are! And if it can raise awareness and money for a cause COUNT ME IN! I love to do whatever I can to make the smallest difference.

So I hope some of you get inspired to make a difference for whatever cause is dear to your heart. Even ONE person can make a difference.

I will soon be posting a Smilebox from Noahs first Soccer Game! It was a BLAST! I was so proud of both Noah and Jason! Jason is the Coach, and he has done a great job teaching first time soccer players!

More on that later………………..

OK Im posting this a day early cause tomorrow Noah has Soccer, and we have a full day of family stuff. I feel a Smilebox creation coming on!

 Send me a link here in the comments section if you try the sketch OK! I LOVE seeing what you all do!

Oh, and if you find my mojo please return it! LOL! Its lost and Im so sad without it!

Despite no mojo I do love this card. My motivation is just gone-so no stamping for me this weekend. I do ahve PLENTY to share so keep checkin in

And thanks to all of you who wished me and my family well! The prayers must have worked for Alexa cause she has her best “after chemo” time ever. She is generally exhasuted and sick, Like really sick, and this time she was up and ready to go to school! Made it through the whole 6 hour day with energy to spare for homework and reading!! Thanks Oh and her counts were OK too.

I am happy to report I am feeling much better too-definitely stress related!!!

OK back to the sketch

   Bella-Beautiful b-day

Its Saturday once again. My FAVORITE day of the week, for sure!

I always post my sketch on Saturday, and hope you find tme to try it out. Dont be afraid of all the “layers” it really is an easy one!

I love making birthday cards. While Im always late on sending them, they are my favorite! My problem is I cannot send someone a card unless I made it just for THEM! I have this guilt that I just cant send it. So Im always late.

I still need to make a card for Jay’s grandpa-dang! I keep forgetting that!

I used my Cakeabella for this one. I love the Bella’s! I wish she had a place in the US to sell them cause I NEVER order due to the LONG shipping wait. I’m very impatient! Despite my long Bella Wish List-I havent ordered due to that fact! Plus the shipping for UM stamps from Canada-EEK! AmyR has been spoiling me with them, here and there! Im so lucky!

Anyway-they are CUTE ,CUTE, CUTE, and undeniably a must have.

That being said this is for my friend Nicole! I missed her b-day too! SORRY! She LOVES the bella’s.

So I made her this card. I have to say I LOVE it! The paper inspired my colors (scrap from a stamp store so I am sorry no clue who makes it) which are not your typical “mytime” combo of colors! LOL!

The sentiment is High Hellos by Lizzie Anne.

May arts ribbon, primas. bling, glitter on the candle, scallop punch, copic markers-all the makings of a great card!

You cant see that the black panel is dry embossed with polkadots-used my fiskars texture plate for that one. So there is some gret texture in this design as well!

Love her hair tie!

Anyway-I hope Nicole doesn’t mind a late b-day card!!!

Till tomorrow……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….:D

Here is my first card for the Blogger’s Challenge! I just joined this group and am very excited to be a part of it!

This week’s challenge was to re-crete the card on page 12 of Stampin’Up! Winter Mini catalog. I love this sketch, and plan on trying it again!!

I decided to use L’Amour by Lizzie Anne. Since I told you I love this “Dove” image I figured I better use it! My Dove is CHIPBOARD! Just like the star in the catalog card.

You can make any stamped image into chipboard-here is how you do it-

1) Stamp your image in scrap cardboard/chipboard. Cut out.

2) Stamp your image on patterned paper/cardstock. Cut out.

3) Run image through a Xyron machine.

4)  Layer the finished image over the chipboard. File edges if neccessary.

Easy and cute!

You can also just layer it onto chipboard FIRST, stamp and cut once-but I liked this way.

My patterned paper is from a LSS and is unknown! It was scrap-and practically FREE

The prima’s were the perfect touch in my opinion. Liquid pearls in the centers.

My glitter pen’s are back to work! I am waiting to stamp a sentiment in the middel panel-its one of those-any occassions this way! And I LOVE that!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a  Saturday Bella-Beautiful Sketch!!!