TIOT #25 - Red, White and Blue

Our challenge this week was a 4th of July color challenge. We're to use only red, white and blue! How totally fun!
Be sure to check out Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to see how to play along and also to see the other wonderful design team members FAB creations!!
I thought Lily at the beach would be a fun set to use for red, white and blue. If it would stop raining here I know my kids would love to go swimming. Bad part of this area is having the monsoon~rainy season the end of June, beginning of July each year.

You can see the sparkle from the copic glitter pens in this photo a little bit.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Lily at the Beach,
paper: Neenah Solar White,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics (blonde 2 bundle), copic glitter pens, Cricut, white pen (like this one),

Techno Stampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch #76

I loved the sketch that Mary Jo put up today, had to play along!!
Since we had so much rain yesterday and last night, thought this Singing in the Rain image was very appropriate.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Singing in the Rain,
paper: Neenah solar white, Making Memories,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, stardust pen, clear glaze pen, CM fine tip pen, string of pearls bella baubles,

Tilda Coaster Book

I'm not sure who I received this cute Tilda from but I found her in my RAK box and decided she needed to be made into some sort of project! I haven't made a little coaster book in a while so I thought she'd be perfect for that.

supplies:
card size: coasters are 4x4
stamps: image from RAK,
paper: some from my stash (trying to use it up! Like that would ever happen)
ink: VersaMagic Perfect Plumeria,
others: prismacolors, OMS, corner rounder, eyelets, milled lavender stickles, flowers, brads, CM fine tip pen,

Emilia

Doesn't this cutie make you want to grab your picnic blanket and go on a nice fun picnic?
This is Emilia, another one of the new Anki's Sweethearts Series 2.
I was stumped on a color combo for Emilia and wanted to give a shout out to Alex for her suggestion of yellow and blue.
I used this sketch from the Friday Sketcher's Blog.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Emilia, Susanaments Series 2,
paper: some I've had forever
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark,
others: copics ( auburn bundle), moonlight smooch, CM cutting system, oyster bella baubles, flowers,

Our Creative Corner-sketch challenge

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Had a great visit with my mom but she left today so now I'm trying to get back to creating more often and all that jazz.
I had a major creative block as I sat down to create but decided to check out the challenges for today ( have you heard of the Daily Dare Blog? it's an awesome resource for challenges). I finally decided to try this sketch challenge on Our Creative Corner.
A month or so ago I got my first Whipper Snapper stamps. I sadly haven't had a chance to make them into cards but I have a few of them colored so that's what I decided to use with this sketch.

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Riley,
paper: some I've had forever,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, SU scallop border punch, SU mat pack, brads, CTMH ribbon,

Shy Willow

Another image from the Whiff Of Joy summer kit. And lookie, I used my Cricut for the flowers!! hehehe!

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Shy Willow,
paper: some from my stash,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, corner rounder, CM cutting system, cricut, light sapphire swarovski cyrstals,

Peace

I'm just loving these new cuties from The Greeting Farm in the Hope and Grace line. This one is Peace. Who wouldn't want peace if they saw her?? I just want to hug her!

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: HG Peace,
paper: some I've had forever!,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, nestabilities, CM pen, Petaloo Dazzlers, stickles,

Victoria

This is another gorgeous image from the Anki's Sweethearts Series 2. I think Victoria is just so precious!! I used this sketch from Friday Sketchers.

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 5 1/2
stamps: Victoria,
paper: CTMH
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Eggplant,
others: Stampin' Up markers, flowers, matte lilac bella baubles, Martha Stewart punch, copic glitter pens, paper piercing,

Flutter By Wednesday #63

Are you ready to flutter by?? I'm ready!! I am just so very happy to see so many people playing along with the Flutter By Wednesday challenge!! I just love looking at all the awesome creations!!

This week brings some fun changes to Flutter By Wednesday's. We have featured all our team members so I thought it would be fun to get them more involved now.

Each week, except the weeks with guest designers, one team member will choose the challenge for the week. How fun is that?

Our first team member challenge is by team member Kimmie! Her challenge was called Spring Fever since we're all ready to get outside and enjoy the weather. Just create an outdoorsy card with a butterfly or fairy. I'd love to see your creations! Leave a direct link to your creation in Mister Linky, (I reserve the right to remove any links not appropriate or linked to blogs vs. entries.) If you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword, FBW. Can't wait to see all those fluttering cards!!

Be sure to visit all my Flutter By Team blogs and see their awesome creations! Their links are all on my sidebar and you won't be disappointed!! I feel very fortunate to have such a great team with such talent!

Finally, onto my card. Yes, I have a card this week. So sorry again that last week I didn't have one. I was inspired by numerous things for this card. One of which was team member, Cassie's, cards. She always does such elegant cards so the front in inspired by her.

supplies:
card size: 5 x 5
stamps: Susanaments Series 2, Butterfly Catcher Shy Bear,
paper:
ink: Palette Orangerie, VersaMarker, VersaFine Onyx Black,
others: Shapabilities Ladies Butterflies 2, chalk, wire, CM fine tip pens, prismacolors, OMS, lemon and orange copic glitter pens, corner rounder, stardust stickles,

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy Flutter By day!!

TIOT #24

Today is Try It Out Tuesday day!! Unfortunately with my mom visiting I didn't get a chance to get this one done.
Be sure to check out Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to see the other design team members FAB work!!

Femme Fluer

I've admired this stamp at Susana's store for quite a while. It is just so beautiful. Finally I had to break down and get it. I noticed she's out of stock of it right this second but I'm sure more are on their way.

I'll admit it, I was very skeptical about the shimmerz spritz but after using it on this image, I'm sold. I love how easy it is, not huge globs, dries fast and it really makes it so pretty. Yup, I'll be ordering more colors soon!!

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 5 1/2
stamps: Femme Fluer,
paper: Laura Ashley Traditional
ink: VersaFine Onyx Black,
others: prismacolors, OMS, orange copic glitter pen, baby's breath shimmerz spritz, border punch, Kaisercraft champagne pearls,

Tilda with flower basket

Not sure if that's her "real" name but that's what I'm calling her. I colored her at Jennifer's house one day with her SU markers. Not quite the same as the copics but I do like them.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Tilda picking lilacs (I looked up her name, LOL)
paper: TAC Cha-Cha
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Landscape,
others: SU markers, Cricut Accent Essentials cartridge, prima flowers, yellow fun flock (I wanted to use flower soft but I didn't have the colors I wanted so I used my fun flock), brads

SU Dear Friend

Since my decision to join SU, I figured it only appropriate to create a card with a SU set! I just got this hostess set recently and thought it was just so pretty.

supplies:
card size: 3 x 3
stamps: SU Dear Friend,
paper: SU Bella Rose
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: prismacolors, OMS, royal red shimmerz, large labels nestabilities, SU scallop border punch, Kaisercraft red rhinestones,

This next week...

Just a little "heads up" that my Mom is coming to visit starting tomorrow and she'll be here a week. I'll still have some projects to post and such but really won't be around as much.
Enjoy your week and I'll see you all soon!!

Rose's Garden

I received this image as a RAK. Isn't it just the sweetest? I just adore Sarah Kay stamps although sometimes I feel intimidated when I start to color them. Regardless, I love them and really should save up and get a few more of them as I only actually own one.

The colors came out sort of odd in the photo but they really do go together in real life and are more yellow than orange and the flower is a pink, not as dark as in the photo though.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: image from RAK
paper: some from my scraps,
ink: VersaMagic Pink Petunia
others: prismacolors, OMS, CM cutting system, prima flowers, brads,

Some have asked...

I've received a few emails asking me why I was wondering about SU. So I thought I'd share.
I've been a demonstrator for The Angel Company for a little over 4 years. I joined as a hobbyist and mostly stayed that way but did enjoy a few fun years where I did sell quite a bit.
Lately I just haven't been excited over their products and such. So I began to research other companies and explore my options.
After much thought and research and trying the products, I have decided to leave TAC and join SU.
I'm very excited about this and can't wait to get started but we all know there's paperwork and all that jazz so it could take a while.
Anyway, that's why I was asking as I was just verifying my decision!

A fun challenge

On one of the groups I'm on we were all sent the same image and then we were to create a card. Then we email a photo of our card to the person who sent us the image and then we are vote on the one we like the best and as a twist, trying to guess who made which card. Fun!
Since I use copics so often, I thought I'd throw them off by using prismacolors and OMS. Cute image we were sent, no?

supplies:
card size: 8 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: image from RAK
paper: unknown
ink:
others: prismacolors, OMS, clear copic glitter pen, Fiskars Threading water punch, Bazzill Bitty Blossoms, buttons, stickles, paper piercing,

Lookie what just came!!

This table was too narrow....so I set up (and took over more of the kids toyroom) the Cricut table(aka card table)!

Flutter By Wednesday #62

Last week was just amazing as far as the number of entries in the challenge and how beautiful they all were!! Thanks to all who participated and I hope you'll continue to play along!!

This week the challenge is an open week as long as your card has a butterfly or fairy on it.I'd love to see your creation, leave your direct link to your creation in Mister Linky. (I reserve the right to remove any links not appropriate or linked to blogs vs. entries.) If you upload to SCS or PCP, please use the keyword, FBW. Can't wait to see all those fluttering cards!!

Our guest designer this week always blows me away with her coloring skills! Simply amazing. Please be sure to stop by Mary Giemza's blog, My Cardz-My Passion-My Therapy , and leave her some love. Here's her amazing creation~

Our featured team member this week is Christine. She is fairly new to the team but I just love her style and she is always so encouraging! Please stop by her blog and leave her some love as well as the rest of the team (links on my sidebar). Here's her wonderful creation~

We also want to send out congratulations to our team member, Ashley, who just had her little baby boy, Parker.

I decided that since this is my challenge, that I was taking this week off. I rarely miss my own challenge but this week I just wasn't feeling it. I'm sure I'll have a card later in the week with butterflies or fairies on it so be sure to check back! Also next week starts some new fun. We've featured all the team so starting next week, each team member will have a week where they choose the challenge so be sure to come back for the fun!!
Have a happy fluttering day!!

TIOT #23

This week's challenge was a sketch challenge. This awesome sketch was drawn by our awesome team leader, Suzanne!
Be sure to visit the store blog, Follow Your Heart, to see the other wonderful design team creations and also to see how to play along!

I used one of the adorable new Anki Sweetheart's Series 2 that were just released on Friday. This cutie is Fluffy! Don't you just want to squeeze him?

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Fluffy, Susanaments series 2,
paper: TAC Miss Moxie
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Claret,
others: copics, nestabilities, TAC Miss Moxie Ribbon, CM fine tip pen, metallic dew drops (they're on sale right now too!),

Just me being nosey....

If you are a demonstrator for Stampin' Up....do you like it? love it? or ???

Just Magnolia Week 9

As I mentioned yesterday, I love paper piecing, and if there's a challenge involving it, I try to do it. So I was excited when I saw Just Magnolia's challenge this week was also paper piecing!
I just had to play along!!

supplies:
card size: 5x5
stamps: Valentine Tilda,
paper: K&Co that I've had forever,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, Petaloo Mulberry blush roses, Kaisercraft blush pearls,

What I did today...

I've been missing scrapbooking so much. That's where my paper crafting began was with scrapbooking. I started scrappin' about 11 or 12 years ago. Only been stamping for the last 4. I have so many photos and ideas for pages that I'm really trying to get back to scrapping on a regular basis.
Anyway, I did 6 pages today. Granted they are very simple pages but they are done!!!

Matthew and Annabelle's Blog

I've seen several sites that have started blogs for their kids so I decided to be a follower again and start a blog for my kiddos.
Check it out HERE! I'll add their first artwork to it later today!

3 Clovers Designs Thursday Challenge #17

This week's challenge at 3 Clovers Designs Thursday Challenge #17 is paper piecing! I just love paper piecing so I had to play along!!
I thought that Follow Your Heart just screams to be paper pieced so that's what I used. I really must say that these Victoria Case for SCACD are some of my most favorite images ever!
These are not colors I normally would use but I had fun with them and thought it turned out so cute! I based my layout on a sketch I found at Friday Sketchers, sketch 55.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 5 1/2
stamps: Follow Your Heart, SU Oval All,
paper: SU Rainbow Sherbert
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
others: copics, SU oval and scalloped oval punches, chalk, white pen (like this one), periwinkle parfait bella baubles, stickles,

Reeta

I guess I'm hooked on The Greeting Farm images...they are just so cute and fun to color. This one is from the Wild Sprouts series and is named Reeta.
I used a sketch from Techno Stampers Monday sketches, Sketch 73.

supplies:
card size: 4 1/2 x 6
stamps: Reeta,
paper: DCWV All Dressed Up Stack,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, nestabilities, Petaloo Dazzlers, stickles,

sketches for square cards??

Can anyone tell me of any sites that have sketches for square cards?? I found Friday Sketchers and love it but wondered if there were any others out there?? Thanks!!

Have you ordered your Anki Sweethearts Series 2 yet? No, why not??? Get over to Susana's store and order them!!

I did it....

I just ordered the Cricut Expression and the Design Studio software! I have been debating about this for such a long time...finally just decided to do it! Can't wait for it to arrive!!

It's here!! Release day!!

Want this badge?"

Yay!! It's release day at Susana's store for the Anki's Sweethearts Series 2 and also Susanaments Series 2!! Yay!! You don't want to miss these...head on over to the store and get yours ordered!

For my card today I chose Julia! How fun is she? I never was a cheerleader in high school but I did do cheer for the pee wee leagues and also did precision dance a bit when I was older--I just loved the pom-pom's! LOL! I used the colors of my "uniform" that I had. Just for fun, thought I'd share. This is me 1980 or so.

Here's my card~ Julia had to be more modern than I was though and she had to sparkle and shimmer so I used Smooch on her megaphone and shoes, shimmerz on the white parts of her uniform and sparkly fluff on her pom-poms. If you haven't tried any of these...they are all awesome and so fun!!

supplies:
card size: 5x5
stamps: Julia--Anki's Sweethearts Series 2, Susanaments Series 2, A Muse essential ovals
paper: TAC
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Aloe Vera,
others: copics, moonlight smooch, Sugar Sparkly Fluff, angel wings shimmerz, swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder, white lightning glitter dots,

Our day

Just a fun day at the park and hanging out at home! Just thought I'd share.

Isac

Welcome Isac to the family! He's one of the Anki's Sweethearts series 2 that's being released tomorrow!! I know so many people that have kids in soccer so I thought this image was just perfect!

I was going to make a round card decorated as a soccer ball for this card but decided to go a different route. Hope you like it!

Don't forget to head to the store blog, Follow Your Heart, to enter for the awesome blog candy and also remember to stop by Susana's store tomorrow to order your Anki's Sweethearts Series 2 and Susanaments Series 2!!

Matthew helped me pick the colors for this...he did pretty good I think! I kept it simple as I envisioned giving it to a child so you wouldn't want a lot of "extras".

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Isac- Anki's Sweetheart Series 2, Susanaments Series 2
paper: soccer ball printed off the computer,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Prussian Blue
others: copics, corner rounder punch,

I liked my first card but thought I could do better so I created one more to show you today.

Supplies:
card size: 5x5
stamps: Isac- Anki's Sweetheart Series 2, Susanaments Series 2
paper: CTMH
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
others: copics, SU Mat pack, star brads I've had forever,

Blog Candy!!

Be sure to check out Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to find out about some yummy blog candy!!!!

Flutter By Wednesday #61

Happy Flutter By Day!! Hope that you have an amazing day!!

What an awesome number of people we had join in the challenge last week! And such amazing creations!! It was so wonderful to see them all!!

Our challenge this week was to use butterflies or fairies and a sketch...any sketch! Just be sure to give credit where you found the sketch at. I'd love to see your creations!! Just enter a direct link to your creation in Mister Linky ! If you upload to SCS or PCP, use the keyword FBW! Can't wait to see all those butterflies and fairies!!

Our featured team member this week is Lelia! She really does some amazing work and be sure to take a peek at her blog....I just {heart} her header and background that she designed herself!!! Here's her creations for the week...you can find all the details on her blog~

Be sure to stop by the rest of the team's blogs to see their wonderful creations too! Their links are all on my sidebar. A little note...Michelle's Grandmother passed away recently therefore she won't have a card but please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

I am sooo excited to show you a sneak peek at a new release this week!! Susana is releasing the second series of Anki's Sweethearts on Friday! These images are just wonderful!! I just love them all! I'll have another peek tomorrow so be sure to stop by and also be sure to check out my fellow design team members to see their sneak peek's too!!

My card today uses Cathrine. Isn't she so precious? and look at those sweet kitty cats!! I'm also excited that with this new release is also a new release of Susanaments!! Yay!
The sketch I used is from Maria's site, in her March 2009 sketches. I changed the sentiment to a butterfly and also chose to not put on the ribbon, and added one more butterfly!

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Anki's Sweethearts series 2-Cathrine-releasing on Friday the 12th of June!, Susanments series 2-inside-also releasing on Friday the 12th of June!
paper: SU Tea Party,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
others: copics (new auburn bundle), Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Sweet Pea flower soft, clear copic glitter pen, stardust stickles
*Please, please, use a DIRECT link to your creation in Mister Linky. I reserve the right to remove any links that are inappropriate or not direct links** Thanks!

TIOT #22 Dad's Day

Our challenge this week was to make a Father's day card and gift or a masculine card and gift.

Be sure to check out Susana's store blog, Follow Your Heart, to see what wonderful creations the other design team members have created and to see how to play along!

I only get points for half a challenge as I just have a card made. I'm sure the other team members came up with some fantastic projects and cards so be sure to check them out.

I bought this stamp months ago with lots of ideas swirling in my head, but as usual, other ideas surfaced first. LOL! Also must admit that this project/holiday is a bit bittersweet for us as we love Sam and are so thankful for him in our lives but it's hard to not have him here, as it is for all military families.

I was just going to color this image but a small piece of paper on my table screamed at me that it wanted to be little Mouse's shirt so that started the paper piecing. Then since Mouse's shirt was paper pieced a scrap from my scrap pile yelled what about me...so Daddy got a nice shirt too.

Supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Mouse Loves Her Daddy, A Muse essential ovals, TAC My Inspiration-retired,
paper: scraps
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Wheat, Palette Landscape,
others: copics(basic blue jean bundle), various heart punches,

I wanna be a cowgirl....

The kids and I had such a lazy Sunday. It was wonderful. LOL! They didn't even get out of their pj's. Sunday is also a happy day around here as that's the day that Sam calls. I was so happy to hear this time that he is moving camps. Where he has been is horrible---another reason I've been overwhelmed/worried. Hopefully the new camp will be better. He also found out his two week R&R should be in August. Not too far away! Yay!!

Do ya like the new blog header and background?? I LOVE it!! Christy Croll was kind enough to work on it for me! I just can't stop staring at it...thanks so much, Christy!!! {she was fine tuning the background so if it's not there, it will be soon}

This week is an awesome week!! First there are new designers at Susana's store. Be sure to check out my sidebar for links to their sites also be sure to check out the store blog, Follow Your Heart~~stop by and say hello!

There are also lots of FUN things happening later in the week....I so can't wait to tell you about them, but alas, I must wait.

Onto my card for today. I have a whole stack of images ready to go that I colored at my friend, Jennifer's house. This is one of them. I had so much fun with the red hat and boots for Wild West Anya. If I were to ever get boots or a cowboy hat, it would be a hard pick between pink and red. LOL!

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Wild West Anya
paper: some from my scrap pile
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, Martha Stewart border punch, Kaisercraft Red Rhinestones, Royal Red Shimmerz,

Grace

A while back I created a card using the Hope and Grace set from The Greeting Farm. I had used the Hope image and had several people ask~ when do we get to see Grace....well here she is. I chose to color her in very mixmatched colors as I just think of that when I think of little girls who dress themselves. Hehehe!
Isn't she so precious?

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Hope and Grace
paper: Basic Grey Marrakech
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics, Basic Grey Marrakech buttons, flowers,, CM cutting system, red scrappers floss

This and That

What a great day! We spent the morning at the park with some good friends. We love this particular park as we actually get to see some nature there there. Today we saw quail and baby quail, baby bunnies, ground squirrels and lizards. Fun!!

Then we ate at McD's and then this afternoon we went over to some other good friends. Just a great day.

Here's a few photos from the day~

Sam's mom made the shirt that Belle is wearing. She is just so talented. Belle also worked hard to get her babies all "posed" for a photo. LOL!

Lately I've just been so overwhelmed with life...and not really wanting to create. Finally after really soul searching and evaluating everything, I have made some decisions.

My kids and family always come first. Always have but seems I got very wrapped up the past few months in my stamping and didn't spend as much time with them. I guess that's how I was dealing with Sam leaving...that and spending money. LOL!

I also have decided that I am not a multiple design team person. I so appreciate the different teams accepting me on their teams but I stepped down from two today and I will not be applying for anymore. Even if the requirements are minimal, I still worry about them and well, I am just not cut out for it. I am staying on Susana's team as I just {heart} her and her store.

I am slowly feeling more "myself"~~finding a routine and a balance to do all I want. Just bear with me and thank you to everyone for your support.

I would be so lost without the blogworld!

I also will be adding a few more personal posts to this blog as it's just too hard to keep up a separate one for personal stuff.

Spring Tilda

I had fun coloring this Spring Tilda.
I must admit though, I struggle with these Tildas that are sitting...hard for me to visualize what they should sit on. I keep trying though... I am going to get some of the "furniture and accessories" that goes with them one of these days.

supplies:
card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4
stamps: Spring Tilda,
paper: Creative Memories,
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black,
others: copics,

*I also wanted to say thanks to those of you who have emailed me saying you've missed me leaving comments. I'm doing my best to figure out a summer routine. Hard to find a balance between the kids, computer time and crafting. I'm slowly figuring it out. Glad to know I was missed!!*