Flower Girl

Hello!! I have two similar cards to share with you today. Please pardon the pictures. The sun is not out and here in the Midwest it doesn't look as if we'll see it anytime soon! I promise that my little Pure Innocence's face is not as off color as it looks!! Such a disappointment. I'm really going to have to build myself that light box soon.

My first card follows the My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #4. I just LOVE this sketch and plan to use it often. I used some lace from my mother. She used to sew up a storm and she has shared some of her leftover goodies with me:) I made the "bow" on my card by tying a button around the lace and pulling tight. I used my blossoms spellbinders die to cut the shape and then I shaded on the rustic white shape. I cut out my little PI girl because I didn't want her flower for this project. All in all, I am happy with how it turned out.

My second card uses the same materials, but it uses the whole PI image and some flowers that I made with a flourish punch and two flower punches. It is for the Just Us Girls Challenge #69. The JUGS ladies are making some pretty sensational flowers ala Tim Holtz, but I opted for a more simple style for this card. OK, so really, after I saw the tutorial I was shaking in my shoes!! Props to those of you out there who make those awesome flowers!!

Challenges: MFTWSC #4 and JUGS Challenge #69
Stamp Set: Pure Innocence Flower Girl: My Favorite Things
DP: Making Memories
CS: Pink: Bazill, Rustic White: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Extras: Copics, lace, vintage button, Rustic Twine: Papertrey Ink, flower punches, flourish punch, border punch: Stampin' UP, brads, pop dots

Shabby Chic Valentine

Hello! Today's card is a shabby chic valentine. I had fun adding layers to it, distressing with inks, using Glimmer Mist, a vintage button, doily and scrunched seam binding. This style isn't a natural for me, so I had to set it aside a couple of times, do other stamping, then come back. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I really want to give it to my husband because I took so much time on it, but it's pretty girly, isn't it?? I'll have to find another special someone to send it to:)

Challenge: Crazy4Challenges 72
Stamps: Simple Valentine, Fillable Frames 2: Papertrey Ink
DP: from my stash
CS: Rustic White: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento, Distressing Ink Duo: Papertrey Ink
Extras: Tattered Rose Glimmer Mist: Tattered Angels, vintage button, heart doily, pearl strands from my mom:), Rustic Twine: Papertrey Ink, scrunched seam binding: This Good Day Etsy Shop

Friends with Flair!!

Happy Friday! For my card I used the teacup image from Unity's December Kit of the Month. This image reminds me of my mom and her love of tea. I used Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934 DP and got a chance to try out the Bow Easy that I just received in the mail. I had to watch a couple of tutorials to get it right, but I think the double bow turned out well. I used Papertrey Ink's Harvest Gold ribbon for that! I hope that you are all well! Enjoy a wonderful weekend!

Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

Hello! Our blog hop challenge this month is to use a stamp set that has not been used in a while. I didn't know about Papertrey Ink until 1-2 years ago, so I figure that a 1 year old set is pretty old for me. I used the set, Simple Valentine, and paired it with a new set, Banner Builder.

To make my card, I used Papertrey Ink's fabulous Simple Valentine dp for the background. Then I built a banner string with banner die cuts, heart die cuts, dp, and raspberry fizz felt. I used some ribbon from my stash to "hang" my banner on the card. For the bottom portion of the card I used a heart doily layered with a felt scalloped circle, a white circle, and a die cut from Limitless Layers 1 3/4 circles die cut. I sponged the top layer in red and added my sentiment and heart. Last I added another felt heart to the top.

This was a fun card to make! I just kept adding layers above and below my elements until I thought I had stacked up enough:) Everything listed in pink is from Papertrey Ink! Can you tell that I love hearts and Valentine's Day?

Life is Good!

I am happy to report that life is good!! I finished my report cards...comments and all. I wonder if parents that aren't teachers realize how much work report cards are? I can't do it at school because I need lots of quiet, uninterrupted time. When I write comments, I always want to be careful to think about how a parent would read the comment. Sometimes I think that comments are harder than conferences. At conferences it is clear right away if a parent doesn't understand or has questions, but that is not true with comments. I always strive to send a message that is both positive and true about each student. I like to include a goal whenever possible too. That's all to say that I spent about 9 hours this weekend working on report cards. I'm thankful that I had the time to do them and I'm glad they are done!

My card was made on a night when I was determined to ink up ALL the stamps from my December Kit of the Month from Unity. I'm happy how it turned out. There is actually no color on the wings of the bee...they are all glittery! I had so much fun that night just going with things and stamping up a storm!!

I hope that life is good for you right now!! It doesn't look so great for my Bears!!

Stamps: Dec 10 KOM: Unity
DP: Circa 1934: Cosmo Cricket and black gingham from my stash
CS: Harvest Gold, White: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Extras: Dazzling Diamonds: Stampin' UP, Copics

Friends with Flair

Happy Friday! It is bitterly cold this morning and I was hoping for a snow day. I totally agree with the sentiment on my card:) I made this card with stamps from Unity's December 10 KOM. You can find info about their kits of the month here. My snowman friend is popped up on pop dots and colored with markers. The rest of the card's materials came from my stash. So fun and cheap to shop there!! Stay warm!!

I'm Sorry

Hello! Tonight's card is one for the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge. I've never done any of their challenges before, but I certainly love their sweet Pure Innocence Girl! I used a lot of patterns on this card, perhaps too much, but it was fun to play:) I also enjoy paper piecing, so that is another fun part of this card. Hope you enjoy:)

Challenge: My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge 3
Stamps: Flower Girl: Pure Innocence: My Favorite Things
DP: Kioshi: BasicGrey
CS: Rustic White: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Extras: Kioshi Rub-ons: BasicGrey, Copics

Two very different cards....

Hello!! Today I am posting for two challenges with two very different cards. One of the things that I LOVE about stamping is that you can achieve so many different styles!! I really enjoy being stretched to think out of my typical (whatever that is) design box.
My first card is for the Unity Addicts Challenge 34 to use your first Unity stamp and pair it with your most recent Unity stamp. The paper pieced leaf image is from my first and favorite set-"What Matters Most." This set with its sentiment, "You are right where you should be" attracted me to Unity. The label image is from the December 10 Kit of the Month from Unity. I really appreciate how all the Unity stamps match so well with each other! I used this fantastic dp from my stash, added some pink gems and I was finished!
My second card is for the CPS 201 Challenge. I love their sketches! I haven't had a chance to play along for a while so I jumped at the chance to be able to this week. I used Schoolboy Riley, that adorable moose:) I made a set of these cards to give out as thank yous to my friends that I teach with at school. I think they'll love them:)

enjoy the moment

This is my second post of the day. (Unbelievable, I know!)
Please scroll down for my Crazy4Challenges and JUGs post!

I am so excited to find out that Riley and Company has challenges on its blog! I just discovered this delightful moose a few months ago and I'm in LOVE:) He makes me smile, laugh and be happy! Who couldn't use THAT?!?

Challenge: Riley Sketch Challenge 0111
Stamp: Snowball Riley: Riley and Company, Sentiment: Mixed Messages: Papertrey Ink
DP: Crate Paper
CS: Real Red: Stampin' UP, White: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Extras: Copics, Dazzling Diamonds: Stampin' UP, Gems: Hero Arts, Nestabilities, Scallop punch

thanks so much

Oh!! I am just loving my Pure Innocence. She is so sweet! I really enjoy coloring her. Today's card is for two challenges, Crazy4Challenges 70 (thank you card) and JUGS Challenge 67 (aqua, coral, green). I really had to search to find these colors in my stash. They are definitely out of my comfort zone! The card actually looks a lot pinker than it truly is. The color is Blush Blossom from SU and is a light peachy color, the closest I had to coral. This card uses three different stamp sets and was fun to create!

Challenges: Crazy 4 Challenges 70, JUGS Challenge 67
Stamps: Image: Pure Innocence-Flower Girl: My Favorite Things; Sentiment: Mixed Messages:PtI; Lace line: Paper Pattern Pieces: My Time Made Easy
DP: Library Ledger: PtI
CS: Vintage Cream: PtI, Blush Blossom: Stampin' UP
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Extras: Stampin' Write Markers, Ball fringe: American Crafts

I'm hung up on you, Greg!!

My husband is awesome! I just had my 45th birthday and he sent me flowers, bought me jewelry, and reminded my son to call me:) Most of all, he kept telling me that, "NO, you're not an old lady!!" Today, after he worked a half day, he took me to return a birthday gift and generally drive me places. I'm so lucky to have him and I love him SO much!!

Happy Friends with Flair!!

Happy Friday! Today's card is CAS and simple, just like it's saying! I love the saying, "Just be You!" because it is something that I work on all the time. Being a wife, mother, teacher, friend and more can have you spinning in lots of different directions. Sometimes I just need to slow myself down and just get in touch with myself. I have some alone time coming this weekend and I'm looking forward to doing just that!
The images from my card are from Unity's Dec 10 KOM. I don't see this kit on line, but you can find out about the KOM club here. There are three small, yellow dewdrops in between each flower. I stamped the image on white, then matted it on black, then matted it on black gingham dp.
Hope you have an awesome weekend! If you get time, check out these awesome itty bitty stamps from Unity. Good things DO come in small packages!:)

Toether is a wonderful place

Good morning!! I did it!! I made a goal for myself to get ALL the stamps from the Dec10 KOM inky and this morning I finished. I tried to stay up late last night to finish, but I ended up with one image to ink this morning. I had a blast! Lots of cards to come:)

I am entering this in the Unity Addicts Challenge to color an image. I used a combination of copic and Stampin' UP markers to color my image. I am slowly adding to my copic marker stash, so I didn't have all the colors I needed in copics. I didn't do any shading either, because the coloring areas seemed to small for it.

Hope you are enjoying your Sunday!!

Challenge: Unity Addicts Challenge #33
Stamps: Dec 10 KOM: Unity
DP: from my stash:)
CS: White: Papertrey Ink, Basic Black: Stampin' UP
Extras: Copics, Stampin' UP markers, dew drops

Friends with Flair!!

Hello Friends with Flair! I'm SO HAPPY that it's Friday:) I'm certainly agreeing with the sentiment on my card today! I made this card using the Hip Hop Sketch Challenge from Unity. I got a chance to ink up some images from Unity's Dec10 KOM that I hadn't used yet. I just LOVE them:) I don't see the stamp set on the Unity website yet, but I'm sure it'll be there soon if you didn't get yours yet. I used some cute paper from my stash and some vintage ric rac to make my card. In case you can't tell, the framed image has the words "Happiness is always available." What a nice thought that is!!

I hope that YOU have a HAPPY weekend:)

In case you're looking to join Unity's awesome kit of the month club...

Martini Riley

Happy 2011!! January is a month of birthdays for me and I made this card for one of my friends at work. The image is Martini Riley! I love that moose! He always seems to be having a good time, even in the midst of misadventures:) I used a fun and funky background paper because that's just how my friend is!! The image panel is popped up to add a bit of dimension. I used the JUGs Sketch Challenge for this week as the sketch for my card.

Challenges: JUGs Sketch Challenge #65, Crazy 4 Challenges #68
Stamps: Martini Riley: Riley and Company, Sentiment: Make a Wish: Papertrey Ink
DP: Tiffany's: We R Memory Keepers
CS: Basic Black: Stampin' UP
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento
Extras: Copics, Sakura glitter gelly roll pen, Black gems: Mark Richards, Pink Gems: Lush: My Mind's Eye, pop dots