Psst...Here's the Scoop...

Did I get your attention?

I don't really have any juicy news.  But here's a new card.  I have no clue where the inspiration for this card came from.  We've had thunderstorms today (love it!) - very uncharacteristic for the Seattle area.  Maybe that's what led me to using my cloud dies for a double scoop ice cream cone.  It is summer after all.

I made this for the CASual Fridays Let's Strip challenge.  I know what you're thinking.  Let's not go there.  Instead picture me reaching into my drawer that houses pink and red paper scraps.  Oh...the card...here 'tis:

I glued itty bits of assorted pink paper scraps to a piece of cardstock and cut them out with my Memory Box cloud die (same for the double scoop of green polka dot paper).  The cone part is kraft paper that I cut to shape and embossed.  Distress Ink around all the edges and a few strategically placed foam dots finished off my ice cream cone.  A bit of twine and a stamped sentiment and we've got a card!

Thanks for taking a peek.  :)

Hey, Super Star

I was so busy for a while with end of school stuff and Etsy orders that I didn't get much of a chance to just play.  Now that things have calmed down a bit I'm back to dinkin' around with stamps and ink.

This card is for a couple of challenges:  Top Tip Tuesday's Masculine theme and CASual Friday's Text theme. 

When I think of guy cards I automatically reach for kraft and think stars.  I know...not very original but it's just the way my brain works.  This probably looks more complicated than it is; it came together very quickly. 

•  I cut the stars from a book page that had been colored with Distress Inks.  A couple of scores later I had 3D stars and added a dot of Stickles in the center of each.
• I stamped the star border and sentiment directly on the kraft base and colored a couple of letters with watercolor pencils.
• A strip of washi tape and another block of book text complete the right side and the strip of wood grain on the bottom was left over from another project.
• The red strip tied with hemp string slips over the card to keep it closed  (it's a lopsided gate-fold card).

TOP TIP:  Use watercolor pencils to add color on a kraft base.  The color will really stand out.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Summer!

Doing a little more dabbling today with paper, ink & stamps.  This one is for the Tuesday Trigger challenge over at Moxie Fab World.  This is the inspiration:

First I was thinking of doing some kind of banner thingie - those triangles were calling my name.  But then I thought about a card I saw this morning (which of course I can't find now) during my daily blog crawl.  It had the word "birthday" repeatedly stamped down the left side of the card and then "happy" on a banner stretching across the top - hard to describe but really great design and in bright, happy colors. 

I used both of these as inspiration - the colors from the image above and the repetitive words from the card I came across to come up with this one:

The "happy" stamp is from the Stampin Up "Happy Everything" set  I bought a long time ago - great purchase.  I'm constantly reaching for stamps from this set.  "Summer" is from a Doodlebug alphabet set - great font.  The bakers twine is canteloupe from Divine Twine.  A bit o' bling in the shape of orange Stickles tops it off (can you see them on the sun?).

I really like the happy, summery colors of this and think I'll be sending it to my mom tomorrow to brighten her day, too.

Thanks for stopping by.

Food Fresh Challenge

Paper Smooches is a company that offers cute and punny stamps.  I don't have any of their stamps yet (my wish list is ever-growing though) but was able to play along with the Sparks challenge this week since they generously offer quite a few digital freebies.

When I saw this berry stamp and sentiment I thought it was perfect for the Food Fresh challenge as well as the Stamp It! Love Card Challenge at Moxie Fab World.

I printed out the large berry several times and colored the layers using Copics (BV00, BV02, BV04).  Then I cut parts of the berry and popped up bits of it using foam dots.  I really had to resist the urge to add purple Stickles to it and opted for a little color removal with the blending pen instead.  The stem and leaves were printed on green polka dot patterned paper which were also highlighted with Copics (YG63, YG11).  I opted for a woodgrain embossed background (looking out my window at the blackberry bushes attempting to take over my backyard I can just make out those woody stems) rather than a plain lavendar.

Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome Baby Mini Album

I just finished packing up a mini labor of love.  One of my customers requested a Baby's First Year Mini Album for her little boy.  She wanted one based on the design of this one in my Etsy shop, but with brighter colors.  This is what I came up with (beware - photo heavy!):

I had a blast creating this and have so many ideas floating around my noggin for more. 

In other news we had a wonderful 4th of July celebrating with my sister and her family.  The grey and drizzly skies of the past few weeks brightened miraculously to make a perfect day for a summer celebration and we had a great time playing badminton, grilling up some goodies and watching a traditional fireworks display over Commencement Bay.  Couldn't ask for a better 4th.  I hope yours was wonderful as well.

Cheers!

DIY Garden Markers

I love to grow herbs and other plants that produce edible goodies.  I saw these on Pinterest and knew I had to make some.  My mom and sisters have quite the green thumbs as well so I made some extras to share the love.

These were super easy to make.  I bought some Fimo and rolled it into logs.  I flattened the top a smidge with my fingers and then stamped the herb name with alphabet stamps and Staz-On black ink.  A little cooking in the oven and they are good to go.

My mom's should arrive in the mail today.  Hope she likes them!

My baby girl is FIFTEEN!

It seems like yesterday...

People always say that, don't they?  But it's true.  We were SO excited when we found out I was pregnant and the months waiting for her to arrive moseyed along.  Her due date (June 14th, by the way) came and went.  I remember being fairly certain at one point that she decided she was comfy in there and that I was going to be pregnant forever.  But our little bundle of joy burst upon the scene on June 26th with a head full of dark hair and a feisty attitude.  She still is an adorable bundle of joy with a feisty attitude (love you, sweetie but you ARE a teenager).

So far our day has started in the usual fashion - cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  I finally remembered NOT to put candles in the hot cinnamon roll tower.  I can't tell you how many times I've lit the candles and launched into my enthusiastic rendition of "Happy Birthday" to suddenly realize that my candles are drooping and keeling over as the hot rolls melt the wax.  LOL - more than once...or twice...that's all I'm sayin'.

I wouldn't have thought of the little flags to replace candles except that I saw this post and the lightbulb went off.  (Thank you, Paper Smooches.)

I'm incredibly blessed to have this amazing, funny, smart, athletic, beautiful, thoughtful, witty girl in my life.  Thank you for starting our family, Kiana.  You are loved beyond measure.