I made a card!!! Sweet Sketch Wednesday #190

Hello Friends! I am so happy you have visited my blog today, it has been close to two months since I have posted anything, and goodness, a good 5 months since I have made a card! I did make a couple cards last weekend but I didnt post them. I am (hoping to) ease my way back into crafting, participating in challenges and blogging. My best friend, and inspiration is Cassie Trask is the busiest person I know with homeschooling her kids, keeping up with their extra activities, she is still able to make her way to the craft cave and do what she does best, papercraft. If she can do it, I should be able to as well, right?? At least that is my hope! After all, my three kids are in school...

How I got my modivation up to make a card is kind of silly, but none-the-less it worked. I pre-addressed and stamped an envelope for a person who I really wanted to send a card to. Now who wants to waste a perfectly good envelope with postage? Not this girl, so a week after affixing the postage to the envelope, I made the card, and will slip it in todays mail.

This card was made for my favorite go-to challenge blog, Sweet Sketch Wednesday. Today I followed sketch #190 by the talented Sally Dube.
It may have taken me two hours and a bunch of unnecessary cuts of paper, but I throughly enjoyed making this card. Thank you  to all the Sweet Sketch ladies for the additional inspiration I needed today!

Details:

Stamps: MFT PI Happy Mail

Paper: TE March 2012 KI Kit, Echo Park This&That Graceful dp

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Copics

Tools/Accessories: Moroccan Screen embossing folder

This&That decorative brads

Techniques: Copic Airbrush, Paper piecing

 

Again, I thank you for visiting my blog! I hope to have more for you soon!



Sweet Sketch Wednesday #166

Hello Friends! Welcome to Thursday, the gateway to the weekend ... my weekend promises to be exciting .. a trip to the commissary and trying out a new church. And hopefully, I will get to do some more crafting!

Today I am happy to share this card that I made for this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday challenge. I absolutely LOVE the sweet sketch wednesday blog and all the ladies on their DT. If you havent checked them out, you definately need to!

I was inspired by this MME Dilly Dally DP and this stamp set, Well Read WTG from My Favorite Things. I would love a couch with this print in my home! Of course, my husband would rather a couch of this awesomeness be in a study or, well, anywhere not in the living room.. haha.. And relaxing with a good book (on my kindle) is exactly what I want to be doing this weekend.

Thank you so much for stopping by and thank you again for your lovely comments, they really do make my day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Well Read WTG - my favorite things stamps
Paper: MME Dilly Dally, TE coordinating cardstock
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Tools/Accessories: TE coordinating ribbon, Rolled daily die (mft), TE coordinating brad, Copics
Technique: Paper Piecing, sentiment inside :o)

Sweet Sketch Wednesday # 144

Hello Friends! Despite having terrible headache, I was able to make two cards today! YaY! I chose two of my top favorite challenge blogs and got to work. This one is for Sweet Sketch Wednesday #144. I just love MFT's Pure Innocence collection, they are so adorable and super fun to paper piece, which happens to be my favorite technique. I went ahead and stamped the coordinating sentiment on the inside of the card this time.

Card Details:

Stamps: MFT PI Making a List

Paper: Buttercream cs, MME Lost & Found Rosy dp

TE KI kit cs - Watermelon & Pear

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Copics

Tools/Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, dimensional tape,

Black self adhesive pearls (KI Kit), black ribbon (KI Kit)

Technique: Paper Piecing

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I very much appreciate your visit and cherish each and every comment!

I'm BACK! Clean & Simple Paper Piecing CFC39

Hello my friends! It has been entirely TOO LONG since I have been able to craft or even post! Sometimes, life takes priority over hobbies, and that, in a nutshell, is why my little piece of blogland has been SO quiet lately.

But, today, I was finally able to dust off my copic markers, stamps and inks and make a card. I was inspired by the challenge over at CAS-ual Friday's. The challenge is titled "Love Ya To Pieces" ... clean and simple paper piecing! Since paper piecing happens to be my very favorite technique, and CAS is my biggest challenge, I was definately IN. I am also entering this card for PaperTake Weekly's "Anything Goes" challenge.

Card Details:

Stamps: MFT A'la modes Dip Me In Chocolate

Paper: TE January KI Kit, Crate Paper Paper Hearts dp

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Tools/Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, self-adhesive hearts from TE KI kit

**********

So, here is a little update on what's been going on with me and my family here in El Paso, TX .... Back in October we became a licensed Foster/Adopt home, and in November, an 8 year old boy came to live with us as an adoptive placement. He is very sweet and gets along very well with our biological 8 year old son. My husband came home from Iraq a few weeks later and now we are a full-on family of 4. Parenting two 8 year old boys is rewarding and challenging, and completely worth it. Recently, we were made aware of a 4 year old little girl who may be needing an adoptive placement in the next couple months, and after some consideration, we converted my craft room from my quiet place to craft and blog to a little girl's room for someone who may or may not have the chance to live with us. In that, I had to move all my crafting supplies down into the garage, basically haulting my ability to "quickly make a card".

My husband may not appreciate the details of copic markers or have an opinion on clear stamps vs rubber stamps but he does so care and support my love of paper crafting. He found a great storage system to house all my craft supplies so I can craft at the kitchen table. It was very important to him that I have the ability to continue with my hobby, one that I had previously thought he found a nusiance. To backtrack a little bit, he proved me wrong when he gave me a copic airbrush system for Christmas ... all by himself!! My BFF, Cassie, didnt even help him with that one! A-MAZING! Yes, Ladies, My husband is amazing!

Next on our family agenda is a month long training in Louisiana for my husband, and then in a couple months after that, he will be heading overseas for combat deployment #6. Yes, you read that right, #6. 

There will be more changes on the way, I just know it. God has many plans for us, and I look to Him to guide the way.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog today!  I SO appreciate your visit, and I hope you come back again, and I hope I will have a new post even sooner!

Happy Everything! Taylored Expressions Sketch #144

Hello friends! Today I decided to play along with Taylor Expression's sketch challenge because my BFF, Cassie is their newest sketch challenge DT member! Way to go Cassie!! 

This week's sketch is super cute, making it even more fun to play along. You can check out the details by visiting Taylor's blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I would love to hear what you think! Comments really do make my day!

Card Details:

Stamps: TE Love is Sweet & Banner Day 2

Paper: MME Life of the Party Lime Twist dp, Choice Snowwhite

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze, CDS Pucker Up

Copics: R81, R83, C1, C3, R46

Tools/Accessories: Banner Day 2 die, sponge dauber,

mft rolled flower die, felt, dimensionals

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #110 - A Sweet PI

Hello Friends! Goodness I am SO happy I was able to spend some quality time with my sweet PI girl. I just love the Pure Innocence stamps from MFT! I just recently added this set, Making A List to my collection because I loved what my BFF, Cassie, made with it. I always seem to always follow in her crafty footsteps.

I was inspired by this week's sketch challenge over at my favorite sketch challenge blog, Sweet Sketch Wednesday. That, and my love of the MME Stella & Rose Hattie DP really made working on this card alot of fun. I hope you like it as much as I do!

Details:

Stamps: MFT PI Making a List

Paper: Real Red, Basic Grey, Choice Snowhite,

MME Stella & Rose Hattie DP

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Tools/Accessories: Basic Grey Taffeta ribbon,

Circle & Lacey Circle Nestabilities, Real Red corduroy brad,

Misc paper flowers, dimentionals

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #108 - Tennis Anyone? -

Hi Friends! This is my second post of the day, I am definately taking advantage of the free time I have today! This one was so much fun to make! It is for Sweet Sketch Wednesday's 108th challenge.

Details:

Stamps: MFT A'la Modes Ive Met My Match

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Bermuda Bay

Paper: Ruby Red, Choice Buttercream,

MME Stella & Rose Mabel

Copics: Y17, Y38, YG06, E00, E02, E23

BG23, BG53, R29, R27

Tools/Accessories: Sponge Dauber, Corner Rounder

Nestabilities label 14, Nestabilities Ribbon Tags Trio

Misc Button, Ribbon, SU felt flowers

Thank you so much for stopping by! Your visit means alot to me!

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #104 Happy Mail

Hello Friends! Happy Saturday! Today has been a busy day, so it is nice to have some down time to post this card I made yesterday. I was sitting at my desk thinking of something or another and my May KI kit caught my eye. I just thought this ric-rak dp would make such a cute dress! So I looked for a girl to put this dress 'on' .. and PI Happy Mail is the lucky reciepient!

I used the sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday as a guideline, I kinda went off the path a little because my dimentions were off, but I am happy with how it turned out all the same.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Details:

Stamps: MFT PI Happy Mail

Paper: May KI kit - American Crafts - Happy Go Lucky dp, The Girl's Paperie - Kitch dp, Neenah Solar White

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, CDS Turquoise Gem Hybrid Ink

Tools/Accessories: corner rounder, Labels 19 nestabilities, misc buttons, sew-easy thread, coordinating ribbon, sponge dauber, copics

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #98 with some BFF RAK

Hello Friends! This last week has been a bumpy one, ups and downs ups and downs. Thankfully, one of those 'ups' was a RAK package that I got from my BFF, Cassie. She sent me this awesome MFT WTG set called Who's that Harvesting Girl.. YAY! I just had to make her a Thank You card with the set she gave me. I followed this week's sketch at Sweet Sketch Wednesday, they are on #98 already! I hear they are doing it up for their 100th!

I got to do something new today! I have admired all the beautiful stitching I see all over blogland.. and I have wanted to try it for myself! I came across (what looked like a) neat stitching tool, but it didnt work out, SO... I remembered my old SU tool set, and I used my paper piercer and the hole guide and punched all those holes out and then stitched my floss thru each and every hole. I like how it turned out, but it was alot of work, and time consuming! I bet next time it will go faster because it wont be my first time.

Details:

Stamps: MFT WTG Who's that Harvesting Girl

Paper: Choice Buttercream, K&C Co Berry dp,

Green Galore

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Tools: Paper Piercer, Goldenrod floss,

Big Scallop Oval & Lacey Circle Nestabilities,

 Ruby Red brads, Copics

Techniques: Paper Piecing, Sewing

Thank you so much for stopping by! Your visit is very appreciated, as are your comments! If you have any tips to make sewing on cards easier, I would love to hear them!  Thanks again! :0)

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch #15 PLUS! A couple more

I really do like Wednesdays .. some great challenges come out on Wednesdays, like this sketch challenge from My Favorite Things. The sketch can be viewed HERE on Splitcoast. I chose this great MFT A'la Modes stamp set called "Somethings Fishy". I have fallen in love with the A'la Modes, what can I say .. they are adorable!  This card is also for two other challenges, the first being a challenge I found on Wee Memories blog -- YNSC#40 Your Next Stamp Challenge where they challenge us to add TEXTURE to our card. I added dry embossing by using the Seeing Spots Embossing Folder. And the third challenge is on PaperTake Weekly, where we are challenged to be TRULY DIMENTIONAL by adding dimention to our card. I 'dimentionalized' my waves and my fish. Here is a close up view of the added dimention on my card:

Thank you so much for stopping by! I do appreciate your visit and cherish your comments!

Details:

Stamps: MFT A'la Modes Something's Fishy

Paper: Neenah Solar White, Not Quite Navy,

Cosmo Cricket Salt Air dp

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Tools/Accessories: MFT Die-namics: open scallop die, large scallop die

Seeing Spots embossing folder, dimentionals

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch #9

Hello Friends! Happy Monday! Well as happy as a monday can be I guess. I have a busy day ahead of me, so I wanted to be sure to spend some fun time in the craft room, even if it is a little short.
This card is made for the My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch challenge #9 on Splitcoast. Say that 5 times fast! Ha!! They always seem to have great sketches, I just dont always get to play along!
I got some happy mail this weekend, this MFT a'la modes stamp set (birthday girl) and the MFT Die-namics open scallop border so I just could not WAIT to break them in. I just have fallen in love with the a'la modes .. I like how their props are just huge compaired to their tiny bodies.

Details:

Stamps: MFT a'la modes Birthday Girl

Paper: BG Hopscotch dp, Baja Breeze, CDS bubblegum

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron

Tools/Accessories: Copics, Sponge Dauber, Labels 14 Nestabilities

Modern Label Punch, Seeing Spots Embossing Folder

Chocolate Chip ribbon, dimentionals,

MFT open scallop border die-namics

Thank you so much for stopping by! I so appreciate your visit and cherish your comments!! 

A Couple of Friday Challenges on Saturday

Hello Friends! Happy Saturday! Today is overcast but warm here in the desert southwest, so I was sure to get my errands ran today. Tomorrow is supposed to be windy and yuck. But, despite my running around town, I was able to make this card that fits into two challenges. The first being Friday Sketchers, and the second being Raise the Bar #55 "mug shots" no not the kind you get for being arrested, but coffee mugs! As soon as I read about this challenge, I knew exactly what stamp I wanted to use. My BFF Cassie gave me this stamp in a RAK package.. I just love it! And, in fact, this card will be going out to her. I do miss her a latte ... :o)

Details:

Stamps: The A'la Modes: Miss you a Latte (MFT)

Paper: choice buttercream, my minds eye Lush dp,

Mocha Divine Textured cs

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze

Tools/Accessories: Labels 4 Nestabilities, Misc TE Ribbon

Sponge dauber, Copics

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I really appreciate your comments, they really brighten my day!! 

Fish A'la Mode...

Hello and Happy Valentine's Day! More importantly (to me), today is my husband's birthday. He is out in the field again this week, not the best way to spend his birthday, but not the worst either. Last year, he was in Iraq, and humm, well every other year he has been in Iraq... Anyway, we will celebrate this weekend. So far we have go carts and mini golf on the agenda.

Well, on todays card! I got some fun mail from my BFF, Cassie. She sent me some October Afternoon Campfire dp! Secretly, I had been eyeing that paper for a couple weeks now! So, I paired that dp with this adorable MFT stamp set, and just go together so perfectly. :o)

This card is for two challenges, the first being the sketch challenge at

The Sweet Stop, and the second is the challenge at Our Creative Corner, which is to 'Cut It Out', and for my cutting, I paper pieced the pants, shirt and boots.

Details:

Stamps: MFT A'la Modes Something's Fishy,

CDS We Belong Together (sentiment)

Paper: Baja Breeze, OA Campfire dp, Choice Snowhite

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Tools/Accessories: Circle & Lacy Circle Nestabilities,

Pumpkin Pie brads & flower brads, scallop edge punch

Techniques: Paper Piecing

Thanks so much for your visit today!

Sweet Sketch Wednesday # 86

Hello my friends! Another Wednesday, another fantastic Sweet Sketch Wednesday! I so look forward to seeing the sketch every week, even if I am unable to participate some weeks. Thankfully, this week, I AM able to play along! I just fell in love with this sketch, it goes so well with my brand new MFT stamp. I just love how gigantic that carnation is!

Details:

Stamps: PI Carnation (mft)

Paper: BG Hopscotch, Chocolate chip, Neenah solar white

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Copics: YG03, YG06, E00, E02, R81, R83,

E31, E33, BG01, BG05, Y11, R46

Tools/Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, Corner Rounder,

Word Window, Corner ticket punch, misc buttons,

misc ribbon

Thank you so much for stopping by! I would love to hear what you think!

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch #2 and Raise the Bar # 49

Hello everyone! Welcome to Saturday ... I had a little bit of time before its time to take my son to MMA class .. so I wanted to sneak in to the craft room and get some me time in.  This card fits into two challenges, the first being the sketch challenge at the newly revamped My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club .. I thought this sketch was so fun, and I had this MFT PI stamp Bunch of Blooms in mind. The second challenge is Raise the Bar, which the challenge is a theme: "Oh to be a kid again", using a child image on the card. PI stamps fit that bill to a Tee.
I would like to point out one important thing about this card, I took an idea my BFF Cassie came up with and ran with it (I, of course did thank her first)
She took some double sided 12x12 paper, cut it down to 4 1/4x11 and turned it into a card base, making it effortless to adorn the inside of your card as well as the outside. I thought this was a fantastic idea especially since I have tons of 12x12 laying around... Just click on Cassie's name to go check out her card made with the double sided 12x12 dp. I really think she has started a trend!

Details:

Stamps: MFT PI Bunch of Blooms

Paper: Rassleberry Lemonade(?) dsp, Neenah Solar White, Pale Plum

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Tools/Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Dimentionals,

Seeing Spots Embossing Folder

Rich Razzleberry ribbon

Winter Wonderland times Three!

Hi everyone! I have been able to spend two mornings in a row in the craft room, which has been wonderful. I am sure all of you can relate, crafting is truly therapeutic.

This morning I was inspired and energized the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club challenge for this week. This week its a theme, "Winter Wonderland" and this MFT stamp set, Winter in the City came to mind. Its no secret how much I love the Who's that Girl line, and this stamp is no exception. I had alot of fun choosing out her 'outfit' ... paper piecing has to be one of my favorite techniques ... Anyway, I love the sketch for this week's Card Patterns challenge #93, so I had to play along with them! This card also fits into the theme challenge at Stampin Royalty, which is "Winter Holidays". Perfect! It has been a fun morning, thanks goes out to these three challenge blogs for the inspiration!

Details:

Stamps: MFT Winter in the City

Paper: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey Jovial

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Tools/Accessories: Die-Namics Ric-Rak die, SU little snow flurries,

 CDS strawberry jam jewels, Prismacolor Pencils, Sponge Dauber

Technique: Paper Piecing, sponging

A Birthday Card for an Old Friend....

Hello Friends! I made this card a few days ago following the sketch challenge at Truly Scrumptious .. but I missed the deadline to post it on their blog. It does, however fit into the PaperTake Weekly challenge which is "Cut it Out" (use punched shapes / die cuts) and it also fits with the "anything goes" challenge  at For Fun Challenges that I will post it on.
I really enjoy making cards for a specific person. This one is for my friend, Elli who I met when we were both in 8th grade, our birthdays are only 8 days apart, so of course she will be getting a special card from me. She teaches English in Paris, so I am afraid it will be a little late, but I think she will appreciate it all the same.
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I would love to hear what you think!

Details:

Stamps: Lovin From the Oven (MFT)

Paper: October Afternoon Modern Homemaker,

 TE November KI Kit, Very Vanilla 

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, CDS Cherry Go-Round, prismacolor pencils

Tools/Accessories: MFT Die-Namics large scallop die,

CDS designer dies, CDS jewels

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #75 Plus two more!

WOOHOO! That's what I feel like every time Sweet Sketch Wednesday rolls around! I just love their sketches and their fantastic design team! This week, I chose yet another MFT set called Well Read WTG. In fact this is what I hope to be doing later today, relaxing with my book. This card also qualifies for There She Goes challenge, which is to create a scene. The scene here being a cozy living room, featuring wood floors and art on the wall! (hehe)

And the third challenge this fits into is Cute Card Thursday's Anything Goes challenge. Fun, Right? Well, I had so much fun I went ahead and decorated the inside.

Thankyou so much for stopping by my blog today! I really do appreciate it! Now, here are the details of this project:

Stamps: Well Read WTG (MFT)

Paper: Basic Grey Pyrus, Very Vanilla, Crate Paper Restorations dp, Basic Grey Manilla (on the book), Aztec textured cs

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Deep Sea Hybrid ink (CDS)

Tools/Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, Circle punch, Corner rounder, Ticket corner punch, D'Vine Swirls embossing folder, Aztec Ric-rak ribbon, Flower Brads (su), Chestnut chalk distress ink, Dimentionals

Technique: Paper Piecing

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #133

Monday Monday it is here again. I actually planned on giving my son's room a top to bottom cleaning, but, then I remembered I have a meeting in the middle of the day to attend. I guess I will have to reschedule the scrubbing and organizing for tomorrow. BUT, thankfully, I do have time to share this card with you this morning! I made this card for the Taylored Expressions Sketch challenge #133. I chose a MFT Who's that Girl stamp set, WTG Goes Green and tweeked it into a Christmas card using only Jovial dp and lots of paper piecing.

Details:

Stamps: WTG Goes Green, WTG Winter in the City (sentiments)

Inks: Momento Tuxedo Black, Fresh Papaya (Clear Dollar Stamps), Tropical Mist (CDS), Red Velvet Cake (CDS)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Basic Grey Jovial dp

Tools/Accessories: Lattice Edge Punch, Word Window, Sponge Dauber, CDS Neurtals Black Ribbon, CDS Pucker Up Jewels, Prismacolor Pencils

Here is a peek at the inside:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday #72

Hi and Happy Thursday! After a many changed minds, mis-cut dp and totally changing the image, I finally have my card for this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday ready to share with you.  {add sigh of relief here}

I had a totally different card made up in my head, I just couldnt get it to work! Then I was reminded of this great stamp set from MFT called Sheltering Tree, and then the fall themed button tree came to be. And hey .. is it just me, or do you just hate it when you cut your striped paper the wrong direction! Vertical stripes vs horizontial stripes! It has just been one of those days!

Details:

Stamps: Sheltering Tree (MFT)

Paper: Imaginisce Apple Cider dp, Very Vanilla,

Lagoon (unknown), Parakeet (unknown)

Ink: Hot Cocoa hybrid ink (CDS) Momento Tuxedo Black,

Dusty Durango, Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol

Tools/Accessories: Labels 14, buttons from TE October KI KIT,

glue dots, sponge dauber