I love You This Much

This week at Sunday Stamps we have a color challenge and I decided to go with a love theme since Feb is the month of love...we don't do Valentine's Day in my house but my wedding anniversary is Feb.5. We're celebrating 22 yrs this year! Hard to believe that I met my husband when I was 18 and here I am now at 42. My how time flies!

I was running late with my card so I went with a quick and easy. I love this MFT die for exactly that reason...cut it out, throw some DSP behind the frame and finish it off however you like. In this case I used one of the Pure Innocence Stamps from MFT. It's hard to tell but I used red Wink of Stella on all the hearts on the card for a little extra 'oomph'.

Head on over to the Sunday Stamps blog to see how the rest of the DT interpreted the colors, all of the projects are amazing! After you get done checking out the DT projects play along with us, we want to see what YOU do with the color palette!

Stamps: Pure Innocence Heart Banner (MFT)

Paper: Basic Gray, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Cherry Cobbler DSP, X-Press It Blending Paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Die-Namics Stitched Cover-Up Companion Diagonal, Wink of Stella Red, dimensionals

Going to the Zoo

If you've been played along with The Friday Mashup for a while you'll know that Heidi always gives us a Chinese New Year challenge. This year Feb.8 is the Chinese New Year and its the year of the Monkey. Heidi wants us to use monkeys or any other zoo animal on our project, plus create a project with a fancy fold.

I'm running behind so I didn't do the fancy fold part, I just did the zoo animals. I used a set from MFT called Sweet Safari to create my scene. Both the lion and the monkey were colored with copics and then fussy cut out. I used MFTs Tall Grassy Edge for my border and a square from the Zig Zag Stitched set for the background. The sentiment reads "Roar! Wild About You".

I'm also entering this card into the MFT Sketch challenge, I was finally able to play along over there!

Head on over to The Friday Mashup to see what the rest of the DT came up with, and play along with us!

This week's Mashup Challenge is:  

• Create a project featuring a Monkey or Zoo Animals. 
• or Create a project with a Fancy Folds. 
• or Mash it up! and create a Fancy Folded Project with a Monkey. 

Stamps: Sweet Safari (MFT)

Paper: Bermuda Bay (SU), Cucumber Crush (SU), Neenah Solar White, Cherry on Top DSP (SU)

Ink: Mememto Tuxedo Black, Bermuda Bay, Garden Green

Copics: Y23, YR21, YR24, E99

E23, E25, E27, E33

C3, C5

B0000, B000, B00

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Zig Zag Stiched Squares, Die-Namics Tall Grassy Edge, Die-Namics Blueprints 20, Doodlebug Sprinkles

A Cut Above for SPD

Instead of doing laundry and other chores I decided to ignore everything and play with my new set from SugarPea Designs. They just released some new products and this stamp set, Timber, and a coordinating die, Log Cabin Mountainscape, were part of the release. As soon as I saw them I had to have them, they are exactly my style.

Again, my paper hoarding came in handy as this retired Christmas DSP from SU is perfect for an outdoorsy look. I cut out the die and adhered that to the oval and did some sponging along the edges and then used copics to color in the sky. For the piece in the sketch that goes across the bottom of the card I placed a sentiment. Both the sentiment and the lumberjack are popped up with dimensionals.

I have a feeling this set is going to get a lot of us from me!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the sketch challenge at SPD!

Stamps: Timber (SPD)

Paper: Early Espresso, Garden Green, Whisper White, Frostwood Lodge DSP (retired) (All SU)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics: R29, R46, N3

E15, E17, E18

B34, B45, B97

C1,C3

T1, N4

R0000, R000, E30

BG0000, B0000, B000

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Log Cabin Mountainscape Die (SPD), Nestabilities Ovals, sponge, dimensionals

Dashing with a Christmas Tree

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend...mine involved some rockin' and rollin'.....we had an earthquake of 7.1. Our house shook pretty violently but thankfully other than a few things knocked off shelves we were spared any damage. 4 homes were lost 4 hours south of us though due to a gas explosion caused by the quake so please keep those folks in your thoughts.

Today I wanted to hurry up and get a card made for the Jingle Belles challenge that will be ending on Weds. They want to see Christmas trees on our projects. No problem, I love Christmas trees, they are one of the best things about Christmas!

I have a lot of fond memories of going to get our Christmas tree as a kid so when I saw this Avery Elle stamp I had to get it. It reminds me of my dad securing our tree to the car and heading home. When I was in high school my parents had a van and one year my dad put the tree in the back of the van and had to leave the back doors open as we headed home. Well, Daddy forgot that he had his bowling balls towards the back and when we had to come to a stop along the way 2 bowling balls, in their bags, fell out of the van! I yelled at my dad to pull over and he ran and grabbed them. Thankfully traffic wasn't too bad and he got them safely and we made it the rest of the way home with no more issues. My dad passed from cancer in Oct.2010 and I sure do miss talking to him about Christmas escapades.....

Make sure you head on over to the Jingle Belles blog and check out the challenge before it ends!

Stamps: Dashing (Avery Elle)

Paper: Early Espresso (SU), Nennah Solar White, PP

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Real Red (SU)

Copics: R27, R29

YG09, G09, G17

E15, E18

Y18

C1

N3

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Softly Falling TIEF (SU), Early Espresso Ribbon (SU), MFT Blueprints, dimensionals

A Bit of Music for Friday Mashup

This week it's my turn to host at The Friday Mashup and I've got a sketch with a theme of music. Music plays a huge part in families life and it's just something that is really important to me. I have a soundtrack for every part of my life and my tastes range from day to day. Unfortunately I have no talent when it comes to musical instruments...I couldn't play my way out of a paper bag! I do have an aunt that is extremely talented though and I was thinking of her when I made this piano inspired card.

I used a template I found through Pinterest to create the shape of my piano. I then added the keys and other details and then popped it up against the background panels. I wanted to keep the whole thing pretty simple, letting the paper and the piano shape work together. I pulled out a Cuttlebug folder I've had forever to emboss the panels, I think that its the first time it's been used actually

Head over to the Friday Mashup blog to see what the rest of the DT came up with and then play along with us. I'd love to see how you interpret the "music" portion!

• Create a project using the Sketch.
• or Create a project with a Music Theme.
• or Mash it up! and create a Music theme project using the Sketch. 

Home for SPD

The septic issue is finally over with but wow, is my yard a hot mess! The family and I are going to be VERY busy this summer putting it back together. The phone company just came out and spliced our line so we could have net access tonight, bless their heart!

To keep my mind off the last of the digging and back filling that was going on today I played along with the newest SugarPea Designs sketch challenge. I knew as soon as I saw the sketch what I wanted to do, and it's a good thing I hoard paper because this old DSP from SU was the perfect backdrop to go with the Home Sweet Home Sugarcut!

I used the die to cut the "home" 4 times and then I adhered all of them together to get some dimension. I then took a sentiment from the 'Home' set and stamped that under the die cut. The oval is popped up with dimensionals and a scattered a few Doodlebug sprinkles around it (thanks Holly for your help, hehehe).

Head on over to the SugarPea Designs blog to check out their sketch! If you enter you get a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate to their store....if you use a SPD stamp that gets bumped to $75.00!

Elf Fun for Tis the Season

This week at 'Tis The Season we have a fun and easy sketch. I pulled out some of my favorite MFT products to create my card.

I created a little scene with the elf surrounded by presents, and because my banners came down so far I elected to just have my sentiment inside of the card instead of placing one on the outside. The white panel is popped up with dimensionals as is the elf. It doesn't show well in the picture but I added clear Wink of Stella to the brim of the elf's hat and to the presents in the bottom corners.

Head over to 'Tis The Season to see what the rest of the DT came up with and then play along with us! Now is the perfect time to start working on your Christmas 2016 card stash!

Stamps: Santa's Elves (MFT)

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White, Season of Style DSP (retired) (All SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler (inside sentiment)

Copics: YG09, G09, G17

R27, R29, R46

YR24

R0000, R000, E30

YG03

E31

R05, R24

Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Zig Zag Stitched Rectangles, MFT Blueprints 15 and 20, Wink of Stella Clear, dimensionals

More Moose Love for SPD

My yard is all torn up due to a septic issue (loads of fun to deal with in Alaska, in winter...NOT!) and our phone line is probably going to end up being cut in the process so I wanted to get this card up and in the link for the SugarPea Designs sketch challenge!

Once again I brought out my favorite stamp, Merry Christmoose, and made him into a love card, good for Valentine's Day or any occasion where you want to send greetings of love! I used some DSP from SU called Love Blossoms and while I can't stand the color pink this Blushing Bride paper is more of a peachy pink so I tolerate it. It worked well against the Crumb Cake and Whisper White.

Head on over to SugarPea Designs and check out their sketch challenge!

Stamps: Merry Christmoose

Paper: Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Love Blossoms DSP (all SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride

Copics: E13, E15, E17

E31, E33, E34

E29, E49

RV21

Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Zig Zag Stitched Circles, SU Heart Punch (retired), SU Scallop Edge Border Punch

Sharing in your Sorrow

One of the best things about being military was moving to new bases and meeting all kinds of people. In 1998 I was so excited because we had spent the last 3 yrs stationed in the CA Mojave Desert and were about to transfer to Groton CT. I grew up an hour and a half away from Groton, in Springfield MA, so going to CT was like going home for me.

We did have some reservations though because as a surface Navy family we were headed to a submarine base and that was something we hadn't yet experienced, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Little did I know I was about to meet some of the best people that I'd ever meet throughout our various moves.

Sadly, last week one of those outstanding people passed away. Julie was such a wonderful person and we shared a love for the Boston Bruins. She has 3 beautiful grandsons and I lived vicariously through her as she posted pictures of them growing up on her FB page. Julie was only 53 yrs old and her passing was such a shock. She leaves behind her husband, 2 sons, their wives and the 3 grandsons, plus sisters, other relatives and so many friends.One of their grandson's has Down Syndrome so in lieu of flowers they're asking folks to donate to the Down Syndrome Association, which I will be doing this week.

I used the current sketch at Freshly Made Sketches to create a card to send to Julie's husband and boys. I realized after I finished the card that I forgot to put a shape in the corner of the card but hopefully that's ok. I tried to keep the card a bit on the feminine side but also a bit subdued.

Hug your loved ones, life is just too short and can change so quickly.

You Make Me Happy

This week at Sunday Stamps we have a sketch. It's a bit of a tricky one I think but can be interpreted in a lot of different ways!

For my card I wanted to keep it simple and make a sentiment the main focus. I took a sentiment from Simon Says Stamp set  and drew the colors from the retired SU DSP that I used. I cut it out with a die from MFT and popped it up at the top of the card.

Head over to the Sunday Stamps blog to see what the rest of the DT came up with, and then play along with us!

You're a Rare Find

This week at The Friday Mashup we have a color challenge. I think I got most of the colors. I'm having a week from hell and I have to say my mind wasn't fully into this challenge, as I'm trying not to stress and blow a gasket over what I'm dealing with right now. Anyway....

I grabbed some items from Lawn Fawn to create my card. Yeti's are always good for a snowflake card! I embossed the Navy card stock with a falling snow folder and then used Lawn Fawn large stitched snowflakes in a slate gray to accompany the yeti. The yeti was colored in with gray copics.

Head on over to The Friday Mashup blog to see what the rest of the DT came up with and then play along with us!

• Create a project featuring at least 3 of the colors above and Neutral of your choice. 
• or Create a project featuring Snow/Snowflakes. 
• or Mash it up! and create a Snow themed project using the colors above.

Thanks a Ton for SPD

It's time for a new sketch over at the SugarPea Designs blog and I grabbed a set that hadn't seen any ink yet, Tons of Fun. How cute is this elephant? I colored him in with copics and then used some retired DSP from SU to put my card together.

Have a great Saturday! 

New and Old for Jingle Belles

This week at Jingle Belles they are ringing in 2016 with a challenge that is all about the new, and the old! They'd like us to use something brand new from our craft stash along with something that we've had for a while.

My something new is the set 'Jingle All the Way" from My Favorite Things. I tried getting my hands on this set throughout 2015 but I kept getting the "out of stock" caption everywhere. I FINALLY found it at Butterfly Reflections Ink just after Christmas. I was so excited to finally pick it up, the images in this set are so fun!

For my old I used some retired Christmas DSP from Stampin Up. I have a huge hoard of Christmas paper so the old part of this challenge definitely wasn't a problem for me LOL

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Jingle All the Way (MFT)

Paper: Whisper White Thick (SU), Baked Brown Sugar (retired SU), Season of Style DSP (retired SU), X-Press It Blending Paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler (SU)

Copics: R27, R29, R46

C1

N2, N3,N4,N7

R0000,R000,E50

Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Peek-a-boo Wonky Windows, dimensionals

TTS is Back!

'Tis The Season is back and I'm ready to start building up my Christmas card stash for 2016!

We're starting off the year with a soft and feminine color challenge. It was a big tough for me but I ended up drawing inspiration from the beautiful sunsets we see here in Alaska during the winter, hence the pink/peach sky in the snow globe.

I used Lawn Fawns set Ready, Set, Snow and kept the background pretty simple, only using the Snowy Backdrop die. I wanted the colors of the images to be the standouts and main focus.

I hope you'll head over to the 'Tis The Season blog and check out what the rest of the DT came up with, and then play along with us!

Moose Love

The house was nice and quiet today so I had time to sit and play with SugarPea Designs latest sketch. I used my favorite SPD stamp set, Merry Christmoose. Mr. Moose can be used for a variety of occasions, not just Christmas! Here I used him to make a card that would be great for Valentine's Day. 

We have a Mama Moose and twins that have been hanging around the neighborhood...last month they spent a day laying around my yard and relaxing!

Mama and one of the twins, a male. In a few months he'll have a nice rack like the moose on the stamp! You can see the nubs for his rack right about his eyes. (only male moose grow a rack, females do not.)

Mama Moose watching me as I walked along the back of the house to get her picture.

 The young bull moving through the backyard.

Did you know that if you play along with the SPD sketch you are in the running for a $25.00 gift certificate to their store? If you use a SPD stamp on your project it gets increased to $75.00! Head on over to their blog and check it out!

I love You This Much

It's the first challenge of the New Year over at Sunday Stamps and it's a color challenge. I had to grit my teeth and get this one done because anyone who knows me knows I HATE the color pink. It is literally a color I try and avoid as much possible, both in crafting and life in general!

Since Valentine's Day will be here before we know it I decided to go with a love themed card, which is also perfect for these colors. I pulled out the Pure Innocence Heart Banner stamp by MFT and got to work.

I used a recent sketch from Freshly Made Sketches as my starting point. The card base is Blushing Bride and I used MFT Blueprints 20 to create a panel in Baked Brown Sugar DSP. I then used the Scallop Border Punch to create a strip from Regal Rose DSP and attached that to the back of a Whisper White panel that was embossed with a CB folder. My PI girl was colored with Copics on X-Press paper, cut out and then popped up with dimensionals on the white panel. I used Wink of Stella to add some glitter to the heart banner and the heart in her hair.

Make sure to head over to the Sunday Stamps blog to see what the rest of the DT came up with and then play along with us!

Stamps: PI Heart Banner (MFT)

Paper: Blushing Bride (SU), Baked Brown Sugar DSP (SU retired), Regal Rose DSP (SU retired), Whisper White (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics: R81, R83, R85

RV06, RV09

R0000, R000, E30

E31, E33, E15

E70, E27, E29, E79

Accessories: Cuttlebug, MFT Blueprints 20, Scallop Edge Border Punch, CB Hear Blocks EF, Wink of Stella, dimensionals