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