It's a Trick

This whole going to school after Memorial Day is tough. After the three day weekend, I feel like my kids are done, although Hannah has kindergarten until June 4th. It feels like summer - and I've been out of sorts now for a few days. And why I haven't posted...it still felt like a weekend.

The cards I'm showing are a little older. I have been doing more sewing lately, but am getting caught up on showing you all the stuff I've made over the last month. These are both for the Viva La Verve Challenges on Splitcoast. They come out every Friday, and if you can do all of them for the month, you have the chance to win the whole of the next release. It's a great prize...maybe someday I'll be the winner : )

Here's the first one for May...And the second week of May...

Enjoy the cards, the weather, and just everything!

A Sunshiney Day

ewww...can you believe that title for today? The sound of it makes me laugh. Anyways, not sure if I told ya'll, but I had won 20$ at Stamping Bella from Splitcoast's April Participation Winner. A few days later, my card was picked the winner for a bellarific Friday card by Stamping Bella themselves...another $20. So I had 40$ to spend in Bellaland. How fun is that?! I only got a couple of stamps - a ketto that I had to have, and a few sayings. I used it mostly for some new embellishments, and to try out some of the paints they carry. Can't wait to get my order! The bad thing is, coming to the US, it takes almost two weeks to get them!

So in celebration of my 'treats in the mail' - I figured I'd show a Bella card. This card uses Maisy Sunshine (reminds me too of the absolutely BEAUTIFUL weather we're having in North Texas!). This is a little bit older, as I did it for the Bella Release Challenge last month BRC01. All the details will follow! Have a wonderful day!

Details

Stamp: Maisy Sunshine

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday "Tuesday", Kraft

Accessories: Copics, Dew Drops, Labels 2 Nestabilities, Blue Bayou Ribbon

Charlotte Ketto

Why is it the Charlotte Ketto reminds me of Sex and the City??? I never watched the series, but saw the movie and have fallen in love. I think I mentioned in a previous post about how I liked this movie - but I like the whole chemistry of the girl friends in it. I've started watching the series (love it!)...it's just always nice to have those girlfriends that have your back and you can talk to. Here's to my awesome girl friends!!!

This card was for the first Bella Twisted Challenge on Splitcoast (BTC1). I used Charlotte Ketto, and some new AWESOME Basic Grey Paper! Enjoy!

Details
Stamp: Charlotte Ketto, Sentiment Stamping Bella
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black
Paper: Urban Prairie Basic Grey, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Copics, Jewels ($ bin from M's)

Another MOJO Monday

Another week is here! Today is Joseph's last day of preschool - it's a beach/family picnic day. I can't believe summer is almost here. The weekend went fast...I didn't get to do the garage sale, despite having a room full of items to sell, due to the rain. However, Sunday was absolutely GORGEOUS and Isaac's birthday party (my youngest) was fun. 20 kids, but they all played so well together!

Today's card is an older one that I made for a MOJO Monday sketch. I also used the Bella Color Challenge (BCC77)to use blue. And who can go wrong with Margarita Ketto? I just love this color of blues. It's been one of those days that I can't find my write ups so I don't have any of my usual details for you. But here's the sketch....

And my card...

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Monday!

Friday...

It's another busy weekend ahead of us...I was going to do the neighborhood garage sale tomorrow, but am debating as the forecast is calling for rain all day. My dilemma - if I don't do it it won't rain...if I do, it will rain. BUT is the energy worth earning a few extra dollars? And I went through the kids' clothes yesterday and I have TONS of clothes...I can donate it all to charity...hmmm...

And then Isaac, my littlest for now, has his birthday party on Sunday. Nothing real crazy - just some friends at the house. I can't believe the little stinker is already 2...sweet boy - with sooo much personality.

Anyways, I thought I'd share the card I made from last week's Taylored Expressions cupcake challenge. Check it out at http://www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com/. I combined it with the color challenge on Splitcoast last week as well (CC217) - garden green, cameo coral, and bashful blue. Gotta love a cupcake and a bella!!! Speaking of bellas, I got my final "treat" in the mail from Bellaland yesterday. I ordered some of the new stuff and boy is it cute! I can't wait to play with it all!

Here's the sketch...

and my card...

Details

Stamp: Cuppacakeabella

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: Garden Green, Cameo Coral, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Punch from EK Success, Dots, Dimensionals, White Grosgrain, Copics, Cuttlebug HB Embossing Folder

Rain Rain, Go Away

It's raining this morning in Texas, and is supposed to pretty much for the next few days. Really, I wouldn't care but our neighborhood is having a garage sale on Saturday, and I'd really like to get rid of stuff and make a little bit of money as well. I'm nesting so everything is in danger of being sold...but today I'm not sure if I should continue pulling stuff if it's going to rain on Saturday. Hmmmm....

The card today is the thank you/end of year cards I made for Hanna's teachers using MOJO sketch 85. I love this paper pack from DCWV, along with the MFT stamp I bought from the bubble bin a couple weeks ago.

Here's the sketch...

And my card....

And the details are at the end. As I sit here and write this up for the morning, I'm drinking my coffee and hearing crying after screaming after tattling...I think today is going to be a LOOOONNNGGG day.

Details

Stamp:Back To School (MFT)

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: Grade School Pack (DCWV), Bashful Blue, Summer Sun

Accessories: White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, copics, scallop border punch

Summer, sun, and sand

School is winding down and the kids are asking me every day "is it summer yet?" It's hard in Texas since we've already had 90+ degree days, and pulled out the sprinkler. Part of me thinks I'm looking forward to summer, but not sure how I'll do with the heat for the next four months. But it'll be fun having the kiddos home and a different, laid back schedule.

Hanna Stamps Splitcoast challenge from last week was "sand" (HSC68 on www.splitcoaststampers.com). Of course, this Riley came to mind...doesn't he make summer look oh so inviting?! I just love Riley - check all of them out at www.hannastamps.com - you're sure to fall in love!

Details

Stamp: Riley hammock, Things Riley Would Say (Hanna Stamps)

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: Parisian Breeze DP, Kraft, White

Accessories: Copics, dimensionals, buttons (Lasting Impressions)

TCP Tuesday

Today is TCP Tuesday - I always love their challenges, and I read on their blog that they are coming out with new releases on May 30. YEAH! Check them out at http://www.dancinginpajamas.blogspot.com/

Tuesday is also the day that my friend Gretchen and I try to get together to work on their weekly challenge. Give her some blogging love at www.in2stamping.blogspot.com - she's doing awesome work, and I think she may have some blog candy in celebration of that - so leave her a comment for your chance to win!

So the card today is from last week's TCP Tuesday challenge - to use navy blue, green, and white. I also combined it with Amy's (www.prairiepaperandink.typepad.com) weekly sketch. Here's the sketch:

And my creation:

Close-up (love what Copics can do!)...

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Tuesday!

Details
Stamp: Havin A Pow-Wow
Paper: Garden Green, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Patterns Pack II
Accessories: Copics, dimensionals, nestabilities, Lasting impressions buttons (LOVE THESE!)

Just another manic Monday

Anyone my age or older would remember that song...now it's in my head so thanks! I hope everyone had a great weekend...we spent lots of family time at the park which is nice for wearing the kiddos out before bed. And I hope everyone had a good Mother's Day - grandmas, moms, moms-to-be, and those women who are just as gold as moms!

I figured I better share the other Mother's Day card I made for the Verve challenges last month - this is VLVApr04. The twist was to make your own designer paper. I used white craft ink to ink up some white on black, and white on red. I love the look - my biggest complaint is getting that craft ink to dry. Do anyone of you have any tips? I try to heat set it and then give it time, but it still doesn't ever dry completely...and this is enough to make me not do this look very often. Here's the card - I love the look of it - and of course the colors are just classic!

Details

Stamp: Because of You (Verve)

Ink: White Craft Ink (SU)

Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black (SU)

Accessories: Fabric Fancies Flowers, brads, Ribbon (SU)

Mother of the Year award

Anyone who has experienced motherhood, and anyone who is planning on it in the near future...listen up! There are plenty of things you do that sound outrageous to outsiders. There are plenty of ways you'll "mess up" each day. There are plenty of things that you wish you did better. And there are plenty of times you wish you had your "old" life back. But at the end of the day, what matters most is that your kids know how very much you love them, and that you haven't forgotten to give them all the kisses and hugs possible in a day. It's funny - now that school has started, you get the fun mother's day gifts. One of my favorites is the questionnaire that the teacher fills out after asking your child (I guess it's sort of scarey considering they could say anything good or bad). Joseph's this year, on the question that asks how they know their mommy loves them, answered "because she get me kisses all the time...and she tells me..." So maybe, amongst all the things I do wrong during the day, I'm still managing to do something right.

This Sunday is Mother's Day, so for all the mothers, grandmothers, friends, and future mothers out there - Happy Mother's Day! You make the world a better place! And here's my card to honor such wonderful women....

Details:
VLVApr05 with a {twist} of spring
Stamps: Because of You
Ink: Blush Blossom, Regal Rose
Paper: Wild Raspberry K&Co, Old Olive, Barely Banana, More Mustard
Accessories: Old Olive ribbon, dots, dimensionals

And it's a boy

I had my ultrasound yesterday and baby #5 is a boy! I'm happy that the baby is healthy and doing well - Hannah wasn't as happy, but I think she'll get over it. It's tough being the only two girls in the house, but I guess that makes for more "princess" time for us! To be honest, the only "bad" thing about having another boy is figuring out a name. That one could be hard!

My card today is to celebrate some of the "goodies" that arrived in the mail yesterday as well. I love Papertrey's style - very clean and elegant www.papertreyink.com. My friend and I were talking and like I said to her, it's the stuff that people pay high dollar for personalized stationary, etc. I wish I was as good as some of those gals - very talented! Anyways, they had a challenge to be inspired by some of their work - check it out at http://www.nicholeheady.typepad.com/

I used the color pallette from Kelly's inspiration. This is from a beautiful new pad of Basic Grey paper. I used my Green Thumb stamp set, and was happy with the end result. Thanks to Gretchen for the help when I got stuck - the "double stamped" flowers was her idea!

Oh and I guess I can share a couple of the sono pictures as well. For anyone who knows my kids, the 3D image looks exactly like my third - it's almost scarey! Technology amazes me!Details
Stamp: Green Thumb Papertrey Ink
Paper: Wisteria by Basic Grey, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Bashful Blue ribbon, corner punch SU

Simply Demure

Rain, rain, rain...I know it's spring in Texas, but enough already. It is just that it has been every day and my backyard can't dry out at all. And with four kids, let me tell you about cabin fever. I'm getting grumpier too...more rain is in the forecast today. agghhh...

Today's card is using one of my beautiful Sugar Nellie stamps - Demure. Isn't she just gorgeous?! I used the sketch challenge from Splitcoast - SC226. I also got to play with new paper on this card - Urban Prairie from Basic Grey. The new paper from them is awesome - very unlike their previous collections, but oh so fun to play with!

Here's the sketch...notice I flipped it to be the other way...

And my card...

Close-up of coloring...

Thanks for stopping by!

Details

Stamp: Demure by Sugar Nellie, sentiment Fancy Flexible Phrases SU

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: Urban Prairie Basic Grey

Accessories: copics, dimensionals, circle punch

All Aboard

Hanna Stamps released last night - make sure to check those out at http://www.hannastamps.com/! The project I am showing today is one I made with the previous release - Train Riley. Love love love it!

The challenge was to make something flat, but not a card. The kids had back-to-back birthday parties (both for boys), so I thought I'd make gift tags for the presents. So no, the boys won't appreciate it, but I liked how cute they looked on the present! And my copics love to color those Riley images.

Well, I'll have to go see what damage can be done at Hanna Stamps! Have a great Tuesday!

Ketto Crazy

Whew - am I glad it's Monday. However, I may have to take the two youngest to a Mother's Day celebration at the school...which makes it stressful. I just waver on getting help - I hate to ask for help, but at the same time, wish I had it. I guess that's my own fault! It was a busy crazy weekend - two back to back birthday parties on Sunday - Gattitown and WOGA gymnastics. I could've used a drink after that :)

Anyways, I thought I'd show yet another Ketto card. This one was for a challenge to use coral, green, black and a neutral (I chose white). I've been going Stamping Bella crazy lately (ok, so I've gone anything stamping related crazy!) - and ended up being a winner of 20$ from Stamping Bella for all the cards I made. SO...in honor of yet more stamping supplies, here's my Agnes Ketto. I also signed up for a swap and I think this is the card I'm making! Here's the card, with the details to follow. Happy Monday!

Details

Stamp: Agnes Ketto Stamping Bella

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: Bali Breeze DP, Cameo coral, Black, White

Accessories: Copics, brads, nestabilities, dimensionals

Tatiana Ketto

So I was naughty, yet again...a little birdie told me to go spend some fun money on stamp/card stuff, and although my mind said to decline, my heart started beating faster...and so yes, after a little bit of urging by this birdy, I ordered some fun fun fun treats yesterday. I'm getting LOTS of goodies in the mail and I'm soooo excited! Thanks, Mom!

Has everyone seen the latest releases from Stamping Bella (http://www.stampingbella.com/)??? I had trouble narrowing it down to a reasonable amount in my card : )...but that's where one order is coming from! I also ordered from Gina K and Papertrey. Can't wait!

So, in honor of all the new goodies that are on their way, I thought I'd show you a card using a bella sketch and Tatiana Ketto. Here's the sketch...

And my card!

Details
Stamp: Tatiana Ketto and sentiment by Stamping Bella

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Paper: The Glitter Stack DCWV, Close to Cocoa, Pink Passion

Accessories: Nestabilities, fibers, dimensionals