Combination challenge

Here is my take on Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge 239. I combined it with my getting to know you challenge for my new blog group, The Sweet Dreamers. Check out their blogs linked to my side bar, what a talented group of ladies we have, it will be such fun getting to know them better and being inspired by their talent!

This card uses one of my favorite color combinations, pink, grey and black. I included some of my favorite stamping stuff, black mini brads, ribbon, nesties, crystal effects and scallops. I picked this particular stamp, because it is me for the last several years. I'm due with number 4 on November 2nd. My oldest is 5, so I've spent the last several years pregnant. Now, I can't let you think I actually look like this girl when I'm pregnant! She is missing the swollen ankles, bags under her eyes, etc. I think she looks much cuter than I do pregnant, but the sentiment is pretty cute and fits my life at this time.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Missy B. Designs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI ssw, grey, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, MM patterned paper
Embellishments: American Crafts mini brads, crystal effects, SU border punch, nesties, SU taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, sakura stardust glitter pen

Circle of Friends Award

Thanks so much to my blogging buddy Vicki for this Circle of Friends Award. If you haven't been there yet, check out Vicki's great blog, Bountiful Blessings. She does so much more than cards, she makes amazing paper favors. She did a really cool purse and a cake box this week. Really great stuff. Thanks so much Vicki for including me in your Circle of Friends!

To pick up the Circle of Friends Blog Award:Cut and paste the award logo and use it on your own blog. Nominate at least 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends. Link to your nominees, within your blog post and include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post. To show your appreciation to the person who gave you the award, link back to their blog. Finally, comment on the recipient’s blogs, to let them know they've received the award.

So, now it is my turn to pass this on, I started a list of my favorite blogging friends, but kept worrying about leaving someone out (Remember the kid who never got picked in gym class). I just felt like I might hurt someone if they weren't picked. I know I'm kind of a wimp, but it was stressing me out. So I decided not to pick anyone, but to pick everyone. So if you are reading this post and would like the Circle of Friends Award, go ahead and pick it up from me, your blogging friend.

A day late and a dollar short...

Well maybe just a day late. Here is this week's MoJo Monday 97 sketch card. I thought this was a cute sketch and had fun with it. I've been on a Greeting Farm kick this week. I bought all these stamps about a month ago and haven't inked them up yet. So they are all seeing some ink this week. They are really fun to color. I love the round faces, so cute. Her tiara and shoes are glittered and are sparkly in real life.

Thanks for stopping by today. Thanks also for all the great comments that some of you have left. They really make my day!



Card Recipe:
Stamps: The Greeting Farm image, Stampingbella sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Tempting Turquoise
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise, SU retired patterned paper, PTI ssw
Embellishments: Nesties, Sakura glitter pen, copics, foam dimensionals, SU corner punch, MM sparkly brads, prima flowers, Cuttlebug Swissdots embossing folder

Just Another Manic Monday

Don't know why but that silly song has been running through my mind all day. Maybe because we started off a little crazy rushing off to camp and a doctor's appointment this morning. But things slowed down enough that I managed to get a bit of time to upload a card.

I love this Greeting Farm Rain Snow Shine stamp set. This girl is so hip with her huge sunglasses. My friend Melissa used to have some huge glasses like this. She wore them at the beach the week after we graduated from High School. They made her look way cool and much older. In fact we think it was these sunglasses that enabled her to buy us a bottle of Vodka without getting carded. So we were all a bit in awe of the big glasses that week at the beach, LOL.

Hope you had a relaxing Monday! Thanks for stopping by today!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: The Greeting Farm, Rain Snow Shine
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI ssw, Basic Black, Real Red, MME patterned paper
Embellishments: Copics, spica glitter pens, Black diamond stickles, SU ribbon, Jesse James button

Finally got to the MoJo Monday sketch

Well, it took me most of the week to get to the MoJo Monday sketch 96. Better late than never! It was such a fun sketch that I had to give it a try. This card was made with Cal, my oldest in mind. His favorite color is orange, and he always says I don't use enough orange. His other complaint is that I don't do enough boy cards. So here is one for him!

I just love this little Skater Ian from The Greeting Farm. He is so cute. I colored his clothes to go with the patterned paper. He has a bit of a wild look going on, LOL.

Thanks for stopping by today. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Card Recipe:
Stamps: Skater Ian from The Greeting Farm, PTI sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI ssw, Only Orange, Lovely Lilac, Old Olive, patterned paper unknown
Embellishments: copics, nesties, Bella's dots, Bazil mini brads, stickles, SU grosgrain ribbon, foam dots

A Bella Twisted Challenge

This month's Bella twisted challenge was to use bling. I love all things shiny, sparkly and blingy, so this wasn't much of a challenge for me! This is my first time inking up this stamp. Her name is Queenanne Bittybloom from Stampingbella. I just love how she is laying with her face in her hands, so sweet. All the Bittybloom stamps are adorable! Hope I didn't overdo the bling, I guess I'm not one of those "less is more" people.

My appliances didn't fully get installed today. My new dishwasher had a big scratch, so they didn't install it. A new one should come tomorrow, then I'll reschedule installation. Oh well, no biggie, the microwave and oven are really cool. First time I've used a convection oven. I baked three sheets of cookies at once, without burning one! Pretty cool. This will be majorly helpful when Christmas rolls around. I love holiday baking!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Hope you had a great one!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Stampingbella Queenanne Bittybloom, Verve sentiment

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: PTI ssw, Yoyo Yellow, Glorious Green, Gable Green

Embellishments: copics, nestabilities, SU border punch, SU grosgrain ribbon, prima flowers, Rhinestones from Michaels, Stickles

Another Verve Challenge

I absolutely adore this set, Up, Up and Away from Verve. I think there is something so whimsical and sweet about these hot air balloons. My husband and I actually rode in a hot air balloon in Napa Valley years ago, what a cool experience!


This card is for the Verve challenge, VLVJUL04. The twist this week was to use vellum on your card. I haven't used vellum in a while, so I had to dig a little to find some. I found this pretty Bazzil vellum in green and blue.

Very excited, today my new microwave and dishwasher are being installed. It's going to really spruce up the kitchen. Can't wait to see it. Best thing is the dishwasher has the buttons on the inside of the top, which means Liam won't be able to start it at will anymore, LOL.


Thanks for stopping by today!


Card Recipe:
Stamps: Verve, Up, Up and Away and Uplifting Phrases
Ink: SU Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI ssw, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery, Bazzil vellum
Embellishments: copics, nestabilities, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder, sponges, sakura glitter pen, stickles, SU mini brads

A Fun Little Verve Challenge

I love the Verve challenges every Friday on SCS. Each week a challenge is posted, it is a sketch with a twist. This card is for the VLVJUL02 challenge. This one was a technique challenge. One of the options was to use the burned batik technique. I had never tried this before, but am so glad I decided to do it. In person the look is almost slightly fuzzy, as if textured. Really pretty effect to try.

The sentiment here is so nice, it's from the Verve set Just for You. I think I'm going to send this one to my grandmother. She is such a generous person. I remember when I was a little kid, she worked in an elementary school as a lunch room aide and an art class assistant. This should have been her retirement years, but she was looking for something to do, found this job and loved it. She would always tell me how there were so many poor kids in her school. In the winter she would keep an eye out to make sure all the kids were dressed warmly. If she noticed any child without a winter coat, she would buy them one. I remember many trips to Kmart with her for coats, hats and scarfs. I'm hoping I've inherited some of her generous spirit!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Verve, Just for You
Ink: Versamark, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke
Paper: gp110, Always Artichoke, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
Embellishments: clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, Prima flowers, nestabilities, MS ribbon, Bellas Baubles, SU border punch

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday everyone. I just finished cleaning bathrooms, my least favorite job!!! I figured I better mention that the job got done in case my husband is reading my blog, LOL!

On to more fun things. I made this card for the Magnolia July card challenge. It was a sketch by Jacque, she is a fabulously talented Magnolia lover, her cards will blow you away! This one went right into the mail to a stamping friend who is celebrating a birthday tomorrow. Hope she likes it! I paper pieced her little dress, she looks a little 70's to me. Reminds me of some dresses I had as a child. I know my mom sometimes made me clothes when I was little and this reminds me of that, too.

Thanks for stopping by today and looking! Hope you have a great day!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Magnolia, and SU sentiment
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Umber
Paper: PTI ssw, New Leaf, SU Rose Red, Basic Grey Sultry patterned paper
Embellishments: Nestabilities, American Craft brads SU mini brads, SU grosgrain ribbon, stickles, Crystal Effects, Bazill flowers, Prima flowers and leaves, Signo white gel pen, copics

Smackin' Acetate Challenge from Gina K's Stamp TV

Gina K. Designs now has a stamping website, forum and gallery called Stamp TV. The really cool thing about it is that Gina herself does tutorials of different stamping techniques. She has mini video classes that you can watch and learn new things. I watched the video this week for a technique called Smackin' Acetate. Check it out on Stamp TV if you are interested. I had never tried it before, so I gave it a shot. Here is the result. I really like the effect. It sort of has a tie dye effect. I think I'll try it again sometime soon.

Hope you had a fabulous weekend. We enjoyed some warm weather. Thanks for stopping by today!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Comfort and Peace by Gina K. Designs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: GP110, Basic Black, Only Orange, Pretty in Pink
Embellishments: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU organdy ribbon, spica glitter pen, SU Stampin' Write Markers, water mister, heat gun, American Crafts black brads

Edwin's Chillin'

First off, I want to say a huge thanks to all who posted comments on my blog over the last day or so. I can't tell you how thrilling it is to have someone post a kind word! Thank so much! I've been spending some time blog surfing myself and am always amazed at the talent out there!

I woke up yesterday with the start of a cold, but now it's a full blown head cold. I'm so stuffed up and my head is pounding from the congestion. I hate summer colds, just seems like you shouldn't be sick when the weather is so nice. Just hoping the kids don't catch it from me.

I checked out the Splitcoaststampers sketch challenge this morning (SC237). I figured that with not feeling well, there was no way I'd get to it today. But the image of Surf Edwin I colored yesterday fit in with the sketch! I already had all my colors and patterned paper picked out, so it came together easily. Hard to tell in the photo, but the patterned surfboard paper has a shimmer to it. It's so pretty in real life. This is some patterned paper I've had for over a year and the Magnolia summer stamp kit had the perfect stamp to go with it. See, there is a reason I hoard stuff, you never know when you'll need it! LOL!

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you have a great day!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Surf Edwin from Magnolia, sentiment from Day at the Beach from PTI
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Umber
Paper: Ridinghood Red, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, DCWV patterned paper, PTI ssw
Embellishments: copic markers, dimensionals, SU celery twill

Elizabeth's Birthday Card

On Sunday we went to Delaware to see my brother, his wife and daughter. We only see them about once a year, since they live in KY. It will be his daughter's third birthday on Wednesday. She and Liam (my 3 1/2 year old) had the best time playing together. It's too bad we don't live closer, I think they would be best friends!

I made this card for her. I did Lily as a blond to look like Elizabeth. Hope she likes it!

Good TV tonight, the baseball all star game is on. I always like to watch that and see all the best players play together. A lot of Phillies were picked this year, so my dad will enjoy it, too.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great day!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Lily and Tweet from Pink Cat Studio
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion, Green Galore, Gable Green, PTI ssw
Embellishments: SU Pink Taffeta ribbon, nestabilities, Lime Ice Stickles, MM eyelet number, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Divine Swirls embossing folders, corner rounder punch

A MoJo Monday sketch on an actual Monday!

This is probably a record for me. I got to do the MoJo Monday sketch the day it was posted. That just never happens. I was itching to ink up this new set and was super excited that it fit with the sketch.

This set called Up, Up and Away, reminds me of the movie Up. We took the kids recently and I just loved it. I know they were helium balloons, not a hot air balloon in the movie, but the feel of this set reminds me of that movie. Even if you don't have kids to take to see it, I still recommend it. Very well done, had me crying in a few parts. Told a really sweet story.

Finn napped exactly long enough for me to finish one card today. At least he finally went down for a nap. It took three tries, and a lot of persistence to get him down. Not sure why, he usually loves his nap. Anyway, I made the most of the little break I had (should have been folding laundry)!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Verve Up, Up and Away
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Real Red, Summer Sun, PTI Spring Rain, Glorious Green, DCWV patterned paper
Embellishments: Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder, copic markers, Sakura stardust pen, dimensionals, SU grosgrain ribbon

What's the Buzz?

I made this one for SCS sketch challenge #236. I flipped the sketch sideways to fit my image better. I love the face on this little bee, he is so cute! The sentiment from Papertreyink was the perfect fit.

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a great weekend!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: PTI Honey Bee Sentiments and Little Lady, Stampingbella Buzzy Huggabugg

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, copic markers

Paper: PTI ssw, SU Basic Black, Summer Sun, MM patterned paper

Embellishments: American Crafts mini brads, stickles, Copic Spica pen, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes embossing folder

Sweet Boy Bunny

I made this card for a friend of Chuck's who had a baby boy last week. It's funny because I've been on a kick making baby girl cards, then the first baby card I need is for a boy! For this layout I followed the MoJo Monday sketch #94. If you have never checked out the MoJo sketches, they are fabulous. Click on the blinkie on my sidebar to see the blog and all the sketches.

I don't think the photo does it justice, but the little paws and belly are flocked. So they look so soft and sweet in person. Hope the recipients like it.

Here's a funny family related story for you.... Yesterday Cal's camp went to the Staten Island zoo. When I arrived to pick him up, the counselor wanted to talk to me. I got so nervous, wondering "what did he do?'. Well she tells me that when they were passing out goat pellets to feed the goats, he ate one. She was concerned that it would give him an upset stomach. I couldn't help but laugh. When we got home I asked him why he ate a goat treat. He said the lady passing them out said "Take some and pass them along to your friends", he figured it meant they were giving them some snacks. When she really was trying to make sure all the kids got some treats for the goats. He did say they didn't taste too bad, just a little salty! That gave me a laugh last night!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day!

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Verve Practically Perfect
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI ssw, Spring Rain, Dark Chocolate, SU Kraft, PTI Bitty Dots patterned paper
Embellishments: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder, dimensionals, copics, sakura stardust glitter pen, SU kraft ribbon, Doodlebug bonbon flock

Summer is here!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe July 4th. We did the usual grilling, it was delicious! The weather is finally good here. We had sunshine on the weekend and the kids got to play in the sprinkler. This is a favorite summer activity!

Here's a card I made last week for the Bella Birfffday Challenge #2. It was a fun sketch challenge. You may need your sunglasses to look at it. It turned out super bright! Really says summer, in my opinion!

Thanks for stopping by today. Have a good one!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Stampingbella, Lizzieanne designs

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Taken with Teal, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, PTI ssw, Patterned paper by We R Memorykeepers

Embellishments: MM yellow snap eyelets, corner rounder, scallop punch, copic markers, nestabilities, sakura glitter pen