Happy Halloween

 

Happy Halloween!!  I'm a huge fan of this fun holiday!  And it is so much more fun to see it through the eyes of my kids!  Here's the project my husband and I worked on all day on Saturday.  Jack insisted on being a "homemade" robot this year.  We had a great time putting this together.  Most of the stuff was from around the house.  The colorful "buttons" on the front actually light up!!  There's a battery pack on the inside of the box!  Also, we stripped the reflectors off of a couple old bikes too.  So here's a costume that will be safe as he walks around in the dark trick or treating!!

 

 

 

The helmet is (obviously) a mesh colander that we embellished with some jumbo brads to look like buttons.  I had some wire from a wreath project from last Christmas and just attached a bike reflector with some hot glue.  Check out the picture of the helmet close-up.  Laying on the floor behind Jack is a little Woody from Toy Story (Joey)!  The whole thing turned out pretty cute, I think!  And he got a ton of compliments at his parade at school!  I think that made him even more excited!

 

Stay tuned for a new card tomorrow.  Today is my dear friend and upline's birthday!  Happy Birthday Niki!! (Must be such a fun birthday to have!!)  I will see her tomorrow, so after that I can post her card.

Get Well

Today I have a card that I was making for a sketch challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches .  Unfortunately, I didn't finish in time to submit it but I thought I would share it anyway.  Thankfully I don't have anyone to give this to at the moment!!  But, I figured a "Get Well" card is a good thing to have on hand so it's available to send out right away.  And maybe, having it ready will mean that I won't need it!  That's usually how my luck goes!  

I have to say, my favorite part of this card is almost unnoticeable in this picture. (Someone needs some serious photography lessons....just sayin'.)  If you look closely you can barely see that I used my baja breeze marker to draw a line just inside the edge of the die cut that the sentiment is on.  To make the line perfectly straight, I added the line before I removed the die cut from the paper using the fine tip of the marker.  Also, look closely...there's a bit of piercing on the base of the card using the Festive piercing template.  You can earn that piercing template free through tomorrow!  Click on the "Free Stuff" flyer on the top right of my blog to find out how. (Or just email me!)

Have a great day!

Shhhhh!--FTL213 + CCMC224

Special, special card today!!  This one is in the mail and on it's way to my dear friend.  My lips are zipped on who though!  I whipped this one up super quickly using the sketch challenge at Clean & Simple and the color challenge from Create with Connie and Mary .  The colors were perfect for "gender neutral" since my friend is very early in her pregnancy.
Hard to tell in the picture, but I paper pieced the cute little maternity dress.  The stamp is one I found in the dollar bin at my local craft store.  I couldn't resist and knew it would come in handy!  I'll tell you.....challenges are perfect for the "I need a card now" situations!  All the decision making is done for you!  Come play along!

Look Mommy... (FTL212)

Here's a quick little card I made for the Clean & Simple sketch challenge from last week.  This card could not be any simpler and uses up just a few of the scraps laying around on my desk.  I sponged with a little Sahara Sand ink around the edges and on each strip for a spooky effect. I think I'll give this card to my 2 year old on Halloween next week.  He sees mummy decorations all over for Halloween and yells out "Look Mommy, a mommy".  So cute! 

Moving Forward--PPA145 and FabFri04

I love this Moving Forward stamp set!  Add in the fact that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of this set goes to charity and you really have a win-win!  No need to feel guilty about adding it to your list of "must-have" stamp sets!   I used the sketch challenge from Pals Paper Arts and the color challenge from Fab Friday .  I have to tell you, I wasn't thrilled with the color Summer Starfruit when Stampin Up first introduced it.....and I'm still not.  (I've still got a little one in diapers, so without being too crude, I'll just say that the color brings to mind things I'd rather not think about.)  I do, however, think the color pairs well with Midnight Muse.  So this color challenge forced me to use some paper and ink that otherwise would probably sit untouched for a good, long time.  I love challenges.....go out and try one! Really, it's so fun!

Purrfect!--a challenge combo card!

This card uses the Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP.  I love this DSP, not only because it is great for Halloween but also because the whole pack is full sheet patterns.  I love that!  So useful!  My picture is a little blurry, but check out the cat's eyes.  I used the Stampin' Up rhinestones and colored them with a permanent marker.  I was afraid it was going to rub off as soon as I touched it, but NOPE!  It stayed just fine.  I see a lot more rhinestone coloring in my future!  I also,stamped the image in Tangerine Tango and cut out just the little pumpkin.  I used a little dimensional to pop it up! For this card I combined three challenges.  The challenge from SU-Only Challenges was to feature an animal on the card (cat--check!), the layout comes from the sketch challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches and the color combination comes from colourQ .  If you haven't tried doing challenges yet, I highly recommend it!  It's so much fun and gets me creating all the time!

FTL211--Roar!

I made this card with my son, Jack.  He was so excited and helped me match up which dinosaur should be which color.  When we finished he asked if he could have the card.  I told him I needed it for something, but I'm actually just saving it to surprise him later.  He has quite a memory and will be so excited to receive it for some sort of good behavior.  Now, we just gotta wait for the good behavior.....tic, toc, tic toc.  HAHA  Anyway, the sketch and the color combo comes from the FTL211 challenge at Clean & Simple Stamping  I used my blender pen to do the shading on the dinosaurs.  Hard to tell in this picture, but the sentiment square has some added background color.  I tapped a toothbrush on the new foam ink pads and then just tapped it haphazardly on the paper.  Looks kinda cool in person.  Thanks for looking, have a great day!

A plug for Denim ribbon!

Quickie post today.  I caught my husband's cold...blah.  I need a nap!  I made this card using the Paper Players color challenge #117 and the sketch challenge from Mojo Mondays #263  Definitely a color combo that took me way out of my comfort zone.  I used the "under-utilized" denim ribbon!  It works so well with so many of the Regals color collection.  My advice: if you haven't purchased that ribbon, get yourself some!  You won't be disappointed!

cQc#158 and Black Tie #5--Starburst

 

Here's a quick Halloween card I made this afternoon during naptime (favorite time of the day!)  I made this card using the colors from the ColourQ Challenge #158 and the Black Tie Friday's #5 challenge to use a Starburst effect.  I thought the starburst would be simple, and I guess in the end it is, but there is definitely a learning curve.....Or maybe it's just me. ;)

 

 

HSS #139--Pumpkins!!

Love, love, love pumpkins!  However, I am not a huge fan of 3-d project.  I just never know what to do with them.  This one will find itself on the table on my entry way until Thanksgiving though!  I created this using an empty toilet paper roll in the center.  I actually had to make this twice.  The first time I used SNAIL adhesive.  Turned out that wasn't strong enough.  All the pieces popped off and I had to reattach them using sticky strip.  The "stem" in the center is just a long piece of soft suede CS that I slit all the way down and rolled up.  I created this for the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge #139--Pumpkins.  Hope you like it!

Happy Birthday Papa!

This was the card I made for my father-in-law's birthday last week.  I CASED it from Julia Leece.  I always struggle with masculine cards and when I saw the picture of this one I knew I would have to recreate it!  The card is much bigger than the standard size.  It measured about 6"x8", which ended up being a good thing because my 4 year old signed the inside and insisted on drawing a picture of him with his Papa.  I wish I had taken a picture of that for you.  It was the standard stick figure drawing however, he left the arms off and "accentuated" the knees.  Hilarious!  My father-in-law seemed to like the card but was fixated on the "Remember when" sentiment that I used as one of the book titles.....I have know idea why.

Legos!!

This card went to my son's little classmate who had a birthday party last weekend.  My son insisted on giving him Legos.  It felt like a huge step that Jack actually picked out the present himself.  I was afraid that he wasn't yet able to understand that we are buying this fun, new toy to give to someone else, but he totally understood.  No "Target Toy Section Meltdown" ....WOOHOO!  Anyway, I almost forgot to make a card to go with it, but I was able to whip this out from scraps quickly before the party!  I'm not sure a bow on a card for a boy is the way to go, but I didn't have a ton of time to figure out what else to do.  I think the little "shine" created by the white gel pen is really what makes this card.  And I "splurged" on dimensionals and used one on every single little "bump"!  Thanks for looking!

A Basket full of Flowers (PP116 and MOJO262)

Here's the card I'm submitting for the Paper Players theme challenge #116 and the Mojo Monday #262.  The theme challenge was to feature a cup or cups.  So, I turned both challenges on their side....literally.  The "basket" on this card is made from the cup/mug framelit from the Holiday Collection framelits. I used some Core'dinations cardstock and ran it thru the lattice embossing folder.  A little sanding makes the basket more authentic! I used the 1/2" circle punch to make the handle on the basket.  The leaves were punched from the bird punch and I sponged the edges just a bit for dimension.  I added a few itty bitty flowers with rhinestones for some pop!  I'm really happy with how this card turned out.  I hope you like it too!

Black Tie Friday Challenge #4

Hi there! Today I'm showing the card I made for the Black Tie Friday's Challenge .  The challenge this week was to create a card without ANY ink.  Die cuts and punches only.  For this card I used the Holiday Collection Framelits with the Festival of Prints DSP to make the candy canes.  I snipped the sentiment from one of the Snow Festival Designer Printed Tags.  I found it very difficult to incorporate the black but then I grabbed some of the brushed gold cardstock.  I LOVE the elegance that the brushed gold and black cardstock create, even with the whimsical candy canes.   I think it turned out pretty cute.  The 3"x3" size makes it perfect to use as a gift tag!

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser and CFC73

Here's the card that I made for our Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser Event.  We still have spaces available, so let me know if you'd like to come.  The event starts with a cocktail and appetizer hour and then there you will make 4 different projects.  It will be a fun "Ladies Night Out" and it's for a good cause with part of the registration fee going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation!  I'm totally looking forward to it!   I am also submitting this card for the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge this week.  Thanks for looking!

PPA144

I love pumpkins!!  The fall is my favorite time of year!  I start collecting pumpkins as soon as I see them in the stores and keep them thru Thanksgiving.  I usually will carve only one for the kiddos and the rest are hands off!  I've already collected 11 this year.  All different sizes, shapes and colors!  I made this card for this weeks Pals Paper Arts Color challenge and the Freshly Made sketches challenge.  However, I missed the deadline for the sketch challenge so I'm only submitting it for the color challenge.  The colors this week were definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm happy with the way this card turned out. Hope you like it too!

Updated decor

This is one of Stampin' Up's retired decor elements.  I've had it for a very (very) long time.  I had this document frame in my craft room closet just waiting for a project and I finally did something with it!  I hung this in our entryway.  It replaces a yellow and white wreath.  I always liked the wreath, until today.  After I replaced it, I showed my husband the new decor.  He loved the new clean, simple replacement.  I said "Oh, I think I'll just donate this wreath to the goodwill, but I think Grandma Elsie would like it".  He said, "That is EXACTLY why I'm glad you're taking it down".  Of course, we love Grandma Elsie, but she's 85 years old.....not exactly the "style" we want for our house.  HAHA

Everything Eleanor

Good morning! Today I'm sharing a card that I made as a set for a friend.  She needed Thank You cards and asked me to make them for her. Such a huge compliment, I think!  She gave me absolute freedom to choose what they looked like.  She didn't even care what colors.  This was one of those cards that I just kept adding elements too.  The distressing on the edges, the scroll stamp from Everything Eleanor in the background, pop up the sentiment, add some flowers and ta-da!  I love that process, where you just keep going.  Only problem is.....all those elements on a set of 12 cards.......UGGGHH  I was ready to be done, that's for sure!  But of course, you can't have one pretty one and 11 plain ones!  Hope you like it and I hope she liked it!

CCMC221 and HSS #138

I love this stamp set!  Postage Due was on my wish list as soon as I saw it.  I held out, hoping I would earn it for free and finally I did!  Yay!!  Who doesn't love free stamps??  The large stamp in this set is ideal for heat embossing in my opinion.  I used the new Early Espresso embossing powder, another one of my fave new items!  As I was sponging the colors on the background, I realized I should've used glossy paper.  But, all in all, it ended up working out alright with the regular Whisper White cardstock.  I used the sketch challenge Create with Connie and Mary and the color challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments  However, my dimensions were off and the whole thing just looks off balanced to me.  I will definitely need to play with this set some more!

MOJO261 and cQc #157

I'm absolutely LOVING participating in all these challenges out there in the blog world!  I've always been hesitant to put myself out there, but so far I've found that everybody is so kind and supportive!  And it's given me the kick in the butt to create something, which in turn makes my soul feel good! Now, don't get me wrong, I definitely have butterflies when I link to a challenge...is that weird?  Anyone else feel like that when they got started?

Anyway, today's post is a combination of two challenges Mojo Monday 261 and colourQ challenge #157  Honestly, it sort of feels like cheating to use a sketch challenge and a color combo challenge, but for now it's certainly helping me create on a daily basis!

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser Event

 

Please contact me if you are interested in attending this fun event!

 

Cupcakes for baby!

 

So, here's the gift that I put together to go with the baby card that I showed you a few days ago.  I saw this idea on Pinterest!  It's onesies rolled up with little matching mittens inside. The original post showed it made with socks, but I thought the mittens would work just as well.  I had to explain to my husband that it is supposed to look like cupcakes and frosting.  He asked me, "why are you putting the baby clothes in a cupcake box?"  Well, hopefully my sister-in-law will think it's cute (without an explanation).  Here it is all boxed up and tied with a pretty bow:

 

Festive Paper Piercing Pack

This is the card that I made for our Holiday Soiree stamp camp just a couple of weeks ago.  I CASED the card from Lynn Johnston, and just added a few touches to make it my own.  I got a lot of great feedback on this card but all that paper-piercing sure did take a long time.  The new Festive piercing template is a great addition to your stamping tools!  It really does give the card that "something extra", I think.  During the month of October, Stampin' Up will give you this great tool for FREE.  To find out how, click HERE  I also submitted this card for The Paper Players Challenge #115 tic-tac-toe.



My first Challenge!

I'm a huge Halloween fan!  And I'm so happy to announce that both of my boys are following in my footsteps!  Everywhere we go they are yelling out "Look at those pumpkins!", "I saw a ghost!", etc!  They love all the decorations!  One of the items on the "to-do" list this week is to get my decorations up!  My hubby thinks it's too early, but he's been outvoted!  Here's a quick little Halloween card!  Super easy and so much fun! I'm submitting this card to the Black Tie Friday Challenge  It's my first time entering a challenge!