Busy Birthday!

This card is going out late, because migraines have that effect on my card making and mailing life. However, I think the birthday boy will be happy with it, and that is the part that matters.

I used the latest Freshly Made Sketch for this one. I haven't used this triangle print before but I like it! Maybe it made it all too busy, but I still think it worked. The balloons are suuuper old. Like maybe my third catalog old, and I'm about to hit 21 years as a demo..... !! But it was where I could think of a balloon stamp, so that's what I pulled. 

Supplies:

Stamps: Simply Said, Sock Monkey

Ink: Pretty Peacock, Lemon Lime Twist, Basic Black marker

Paper: Lemon Lime Twist & Basic White card stock, Bright & Beautiful DP

Accessories: Transparent Dots

A Birthday!

This weekend my daughter will be celebrating her birthday with friends. Here's the invitations I made. Pretty simple (except the cutting) but cute enough. Then I typed up the information and adhered it to the back!
She picked the stamp set. I swear its only my kids who use the monkey. I loved the set when I saw it in the catalog the first time and I think it was my first purchase out of that catalog. But I can never seem to make him a very cute monkey, and I never know quite what else to do! Oh well, my kids get TONS of use out of it.

Supplies:
Stamps: Sock Monkey
Ink: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry & So Saffron markers
Paper: Melon Mambo, So Saffron & Whisper White card stocks

Birthdays for everyone!

I was asked to make a stack of birthday cards so here's one for a young boy, a young girl or even a baby, and a teenager, and one for anyone at all!

Supplies:
Stamps: Pun Fun, Upsy Daisy
Ink: Basic Black, Bashful Blue
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Watercolor Crayons, Blender Pens, White grosgrain ribbon

Supplies:
Stamps: Grunge Rock
Ink: More Mustard, Basic Black
Paper: More Mustard, Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Stamping Sponges

Supplies:
Stamps: Sock Monkey
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Cajun Craze, Whisper White card stocks, Wicked Fun dp
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens

Balloons? Check!

Can you believe it- I am playing with the Cinema Challenge, two weeks in a row, ON TIME! Whoo!

This time the selected flick was "Up!". And they wanted balloons. We went as a family to see that in theaters and then my kids watched it daily after getting it for Christmas for a long time. It just happens that my little girl's birthday is this week, so I had already made the invite (below) and needed to make her a card still! Score!

I picked this particular balloon set because this is the set she ALWAYS chooses when she needs to make a card. I thought I'd paper-piece the monkey, and then used the In Colors for the bright balloons! Super simple, just really time consuming! Supplies:

Stamps: Sock Monkey Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Suede Prints DP

And here is her birthday party invitation! The set is long-retired but I like it for kid things. I let her pick which child image, and then which birthday 'accessories' to use. When I had them all stamped in black she saw and made a comment about how she hoped they would be colorful...! Made me laugh.

Thankful Jar

What are you thankful for? We have started a little Thankful Jar in our family. It was intended to be a countdown to Thanksgiving, but I received it late, and besides, I think it should continue thru the entire holiday season. So each morning my kids are taking turns drawing out a slip of paper with a reminder of something we are thankful for, and a way to express their gratitude. Today's selection said "I am thankful for my cousins! Write a letter to one of your cousins!" ...only problem is my kids have a LOT of cousins. In fact, a good number of who they consider their cousins are actually the children of their first cousins. :) LOTS to choose from! They each chose three cousins to make a card for....and look how fun it was!

But....their choices left out a little one whose older siblings would get mail...and I didn't want her feelings hurt! So I threw together a Thankful card for her! It is extremely simple, but hey, she's a very small girl!

Here are the three cards my son did. He wrote and filled the insides. Yeay for cousins!

Mojo Birthday

My dad's birthday was this week, so I used Julee's sketch to get me going! The photo is not wonderful because I needed it in the mail way before then, but I decided it was alright...its a yellow-y card so why not yellow-y lighting...? LOL! Supplies: Stamps: Under The Stars Ink: Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Garden Green, Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel Paper: Creamy Caramel, So Saffron & Really Rust card stocks Accessories: Linen Thread

This is the card my son made him... (I forgot to take pictures of the cards my daughter made!) You wanna know what else? Until the 31st, if you buy these sets (or any others from the Growing Up section of the new catalog -for a minimum of $35 from that section), you can get a free package of really cute buttons!!! Fun, huh?!

Birthday for a Boy

ONE of the crazy things keeping me off the computer lately is that my son’s birthday was this week. Talk about limited supplies...I tried to take the supplies I would need camping with us but I forgot some important things. Like adhesive...! I had to use scotch tape!

Anyway, I made this card for him from us…

Supplies: Stamps: Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, Little Trucks (retired) Ink: Basic Gray, Red Ink cartridge Paper: Real Red, Yoyo Yellow & White card stock Accessories: Bold Brights markers, Real Red grosgrain ribbon

I made this card for my parents to give him (Mom has been out of town=no time to stamp)

Supplies: Stamps: Choo Choo, Right on Track wheel, Little Layers Plus (retired) Ink: Basic Gray, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Yoyo Yellow, Creamy Caramel Marker, Chocolate Chip Marker, Tempting Turquoise Marker, Yoyo Yellow Marker

And this is what my daughter did for him!

Supplies:

Stamps: Sock Monkey Ink: Bold Brights Markers Paper: White card stock

My kids love holidays because they get to stamp cards for other people. And they are so proud of their work! LOL! But here's a shot of the birthday boy!

Birthday cards!

This year I received so many birthday wishes! Lots of birthday cards in the mail and many online notes, hee hee. Today I wanted to show off the stamped cards I got. Other people's ideas are often the source of inspiration, so ENJOY!

This one is from my mom! Isn't it great?

Supplies: Stamps: Artfully Asian ~ Ink: Mellow Moss, Basic Black, Vintage Violet ~ Paper: Mellow Moss, Vintage Violet, Very Vanilla card stocks, Apricot Prints DP ~ Accessories: Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Vintage Violet Stitched Ribbon

This is from Kitty, thru Splitcoaststampers! (SCS)

Supplies: Stamps: Sock Monkey, Holidays & Wishes Ink: Basic Black Paper: Bella Rose DP, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa & White card stock, Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon

From Pia, thru SCS!

Supplies unknown

From Linda, thru SCS!

Supplies Unknown

From Tina, thru SCS!

Supplies: Stamps: Unknown Sugar Nellie image, Sincere Salutations ~ Ink: Black ~ Paper: Pink Pirouette, Old Olive & White card stock, Ginger Blossom? DP ~ Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Markers, Rhinestones

From Janet, thru SCS!

Supplies: Stamps: True Friend, Birthday's Count ~ Ink: Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal ~ Paper: Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Close to Cocoa & White card stock ~ Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Celery Grosgrain Ribbon

Wow do I feel loved! :) Thanks ladies! And thanks to every one else who sent wishes my way!

Blog Candy ends tonight...!!!

Nine Year Old Boys: How to...

...let them stamp!

I've been a cub scout leader (Bears) for a couple months now and just now had to start planning the den meetings. So this week, one part was I had them make a thank you card! I thought the timing is good enough- how likely is it that 9yr olds have sent a thank you to everyone who gave them a gift for Christmas?? But my dilemma was HOW to let them stamp their own cards without me freaking out over my supplies........ My smart husband pointed out I could do the same idea as is Wish-RAK. I stamp the images and provide the card base, the glue stick and the colored pencils (crayola variety) and let the boys put it together however they want. Brilliant!

And then I was even MORE excited than ever that I own Scout Stamps!!! Hooray! LOL!

So here are the items I prepped a head of time. I had options - they could choose one of two scout images, one of several colors of card base, and one of three thank you words, punched out.

Supplies: Stamps: Scouts At Play (long retired), Sock Monkey, Pocket Silhouettes Ink: Basic Gray

Paper: Misc above Accessories: Word Window Punch, 1 3.8 inch circle punch, 1 3/8 inch square punch

Unfortunately I couldn't attend yesterday, or I would show some finished projects. My own little guy has a fever... but from the other leaders it sounds like the boys enjoyed making their cards! Yeay!

Whiff of Joy Wednesday...plus!

Yep, "plus"! That means I've got lots of things going on here with these Whiff of Joy cards!

First, a card that will end up a birthday card. (I have a surprisingly lot of birthdays coming up!) I used Jen's Saturday Sketch to Try (tho I did alter it - I left off the greeting on the bottom. But I might add it in the end...) and I also used last week's Whiff of Joy Challenge for Greens and Purples! And yes, it took me an entire week to get it done! (hmm...turns out Wednesday comes early in Europe...) Anyway, this card was fun to put together. Shouldn't have gone so random with the red/pink hearts, but its ok. LOL!

Supplies: Stamps: Melinda Blowing Kisses (Whiff of Joy) Ink: Black Paper: Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulence & White card stock, Sweet? DP (very old, retired) Accessories: watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon

Now this card is for a little boy who just lost his grandmother. He's a very young boy, but I thought maybe getting some mail addressed to him would brighten his day. And I LOVE this new WOJ image I just got thru Wish-RAK! Isn't he sweet??? I just love him! The card also works for the OCC color challenge from two Saturday's ago- to use two shades of blue and a neutral. Is yellow a neutral? Or brown? LOL!

Supplies: Stamps: Oakley in Bathtub (Whiff of Joy), Sock Monkey Ink: Black, Brilliant Blue, Baja Breeze Paper: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point & White card stock Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen

So, there's some fun little cuties. Have a wonderful day!

Using stuff!

I've gotten some FUN things in the mail lately and I decided to play with them! This card has what became 5 elements from the goodie bag my friend Eve sent, previously shown here.

She showed this kind of card stock on her blog when she listed her favorite things. It really is cool because it has this sparkly, shimmery look, but it feels like regular card stock! She did the heart film-strip using that card stock. I punched the hearts out and scattered them onto the Chocolate chunk of card stock. Then she also sent that silver X charm. X as in KISS. As you may guess, this card is for my honey! hee hee! I am so lovin' that pink snowman concept that I had to use some more, and the sentiment works nicely!

Supplies: Stamps: The World Over Ink: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink Paper: White Naturals, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip & unknown card stocks Accessories: die-cuts, silver charm, silver cord, Chocolate Chip grosgrain, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen, Stamping Sponge

Then, I signed up for the Wish-RAK group on SCS and am in love with the little Magnolia images that arrived yesterday! They are just the sweetest images! So here's this card I made yesterday afternoon!

I just love Tilda! You'll definitely be seeing some more in the days to come...!

Supplies: Stamps: Tilda with bunch of flowers, Sock Monkey Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Perfect Plum Paper: Marigold Morning, Perfect Plum & White card stock Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pens, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Flowers & Stripes

For this card, I used Lauren's Sketch and mixed in Beate's Inspiration Piece! I too loved the stripy couch, but I also liked the flowers sitting in the shelves. My stripes come from some more old DP- Spring Showers. The flower stamp is retired too- it comes from Lively Little Ones. Anyway, it was a pretty simple card and I like how it turned out.

Supplies:

Stamps: Lively Little Ones, Sock Monkey ~ Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip ~ Paper: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White Card stocks, Spring Showers DP ~ Accessories: Silver Brads, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8 inch circle punch

I wanted to share my happy - In the last week we've managed to buy 5 Christmas presents! And its only September! Walmart has cheap movie racks that are really worth checking out! The other day Burt and I noticed one such 'steal' that I went back for. It's gonna be a family gift, but I already know us girls will get the most fun from it. hee hee! Its a Rodgers & Hammerstein's collection with State Fair, Oklahoma and Carousel, for only $13 WOW! There's no features or anything (we love watching the bonus features!) but I'm sure not complaining! It worked out great because we are currently borrowing two of them from my parents. I'd never seen any of State Fair until last week, and I'd only seen my school's 9th grade production of Oklahoma. But thanks to four years of voice lessons where my main source of pieces came from a Broadway music book, I knew plenty of the songs! And Carousel is one of those favorites of mine that I never watch because it makes me cry. LOL! So I am super excited! Sienna will be too, yesterday she wanted to watch "Pok-ee-no-no-na" which turned out to mean "Oklahoma". That one really made me laugh...

Five gifts bought and I am already giddy-excited for Christmas to come! hee hee!!!

Sketches!

Happy calm day with no where to go! Actually, we really did have somewhere to be, but Burt has a cold and a headache and my allergies are still crazy so we stayed home. Its ok, we're getting some rest and I got TWO cards made! (I'm even hoping to make some more...!)

First I have Beate's Weekend Sketch. It isn't quite what I had in my head, but it still turned out nice. For the tag, I stamped the words one by one and then sponged over the entire thing, and then used the direct-to-paper technique on the edges. Funny how springy it is with Christmas on my brain....

Supplies:

Stamps: Pick A Petal, Sock Monkey

Ink: Eggplant Envy, Certainly Celery

Paper: Certainly Celery, Pale Plum, Eggplant Envy, Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Tag Punch, Spiral Punch, 1/4 inch circle punch, Soft Subtles Brads

And here is my retired-Christmas-y take on Taylor's Cupcake Sketch. As soon as I saw the sketch I thought of this old paper I had. Makes it fun, that's for sure! Anyway, Taylor has just released her own new stamp line and they are really cute! Click on her link to see them in action.

Supplies: Stamps: Holiday Tag Team Ink: Always Artichoke Paper: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Real Red card stocks, All The Trimmings Simply Scrappin' Kit (retired!) Accessories: Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch

Amazing how much you can accomplish on a sick day! LOL!

New Favorite Color Combination!

Since my new Baja Breeze ink pad arrived I HAD to play with it! I used Lauren's sketch which turned out to be super easy to make a plan for, but I thought up the piercing at the last second and that took some time. Mostly just because I'm a lazy stamper! haha! I think this turned out really nice tho.

And yes, this is my new favorite combo. Baja Breeze with brown! I've got some other projects in my head using the same combo, just had to wait for the ink to arrive! LOL!

Supplies: Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Sock Monkey Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip Paper: Whisper White & Baja Breeze card stocks Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, Mat Pack, 1 3/8 inch square punch, Dimensionals

Bunch o' pink flowers!

Here's another bright card. This one uses Julee's Mojo Monday sketch. I wanted to use the flower from Sock Monkey. I love this color combination!

Supplies: Stamps: Sock Monkey ~ Inks: Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery ~ Paper: Pixie Pink card stock, Certainly Celery Prints Paper, Yoyo Yellow card stock, Whisper White card stock ~ Accessories: 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Soft Subtles Brads

Bright Sketch!

This is Lauren's Saturday sketch! I used some pretty bright colors, except for the lovely Baja Breeze. I also played with some tools I hardly ever pull out- clear embossing powder and my heat tool! I wanted to make the fish look wet. I also used the embossing on the words to make them stand out a little more. I don't know anything about these stamps other than they came from Japan! And that these are in a set. My gift from my mom's trip was scrapbook supplies and stamps. hee hee...! So you'll see more "foreign" products in the next little while...! :)

Supplies: Stamps: Sock Monkey, Unknown ~ Paper: Baja Breeze, Gable Green, Whisper White ~ Inks: Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Gable Green, Green Galore, Versamark ~ Accessories: Big square punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool~

Birthday Circles!

Taylor definitely issued a challenge for me with her weekly cupcake challenge... 9 circles on one card.... But I followed her sketch!

I had the circles already punched because I had waaay too many left over for a big scrapbook project. So I had to find something that would work for Brilliant Blue circles. The card is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 Green Galore! I used three images and a word from Sock Monkey and colored them for a little boy's birthday card. The word is punched out with the Word Window Punch (naturally) and I added a little Green Galore button too. The hard part was cutting out the little images!

My boy!

He is growing up! He's had a birthday this week, and I think that's always a little crazy when your oldest gets older... (altho...are we ever going to out-grow Thomas-themed birthdays? LOL!) This is his first store-bought birthday cake(s), and I think he was a little excited!

So here are his cute birthday invitations. The balloons come from the same sneak peek set as that cupcake I last used. I drew the strings from the balloons and even came up with the corny poem. He was so funny finding the rhymes when we were delivering the invites! Anyway, I used a piece of Tempting Turquoise for the base. The balloons were stamped and cut out of various shades of Bold Brights colors and the invitation part was typed up and printed off and glued to the back! Simple enough...!

Here is his birthday card and you can see more of the new stamp set! Yes, its called Sock Monkey! It comes with all the stamps I used on this card, plus five others! I think its so cute! And since I haven't whined enough about cutting lately, I thought I'd try my hand at paper-piecing!!! Yes folks, I'm nuts! I used the brand new Pacific Point card stock for the card base here, as well as for the balloon and pieces of the hat. The monkey was pieced using Creamy Caramel card stock, stamped with the Canvas stamp in Close to Cocoa ink! Then I colored the rest of him using the Bordering Blue watercolor crayon and Blender Pens. I pieced the cupcake with More Mustard for the liner and Chocolate Chip for the frosting. I added glitter with my 2-Way glue pen to the top of the hat and the flame of the candle. The balloons have Silver Cord strings and are tied together, they're also popped up on Dimensionals and I have a little 'shine' with the White Gel Pen.

I think this is the most work I've ever put into a card, and its for a little boy! Goodness!

Now a story about him growing up...! Monday morning, Sienna was asleep in our bed and Hunter came to wake all three of us up. He told us he'd made something and we all needed to come see. How many times does he make a new train track design or lego village? So it took us a few minutes, but we went down to see. I even took the camera to save myself a trip back up. And THIS is what we saw!!! He made each of us BREAKFAST! No, he's never been "allowed" to pour cereal or milk, (not because I don't let him, but because I just do it...) but he did it! He'd chosen what he thought was each of our favorites and it was ready to go! He even put sugar on the corn flakes and wheaties! We were very impressed (even tho it meant eating very soggy cereal)! He was soooo proud of himself he had that beaming grin on til well after we were done eating. Guess he's growing up!