My Little Monkey

Today I wanted to post a few scrapbook pages that I had completed for my youngest son Connor. When I started Connor's scrapbook about a month ago or more, I felt that I needed something to help get me get started, so I've been using scrapbook sketches which help me with my layout and give me a starting point. I like the idea of using a sketch to complete a double page layout because in the past when I've scrapbooked all the pages started to look the same. There are several sites on line that have sketches available (I've listed a few in my sidebar), but there is one that I really enjoy, its Cyndi's sketches from her blog the Scrappy Chick. Cyndi always has some of the best sketches with fabulous page samples and what I like most is that her sketches include room for more than one picture. As a mother I'm always snapping a ton of pictures of my kids and the things their doing so having a layout that allows me to add several pictures is a good thing. Below is a picture of Cyndi's sketch and if your interested in seeing more, visit her wonderful blog that's highlighted and linked above.

Supplies: Bazzil cardstock, Basic Grey designer paper, Large brads, Die cut monkey and title created with Circut machine.

The colors in these pictures look so different IRL.

TLC166 - Mother's Day Card

This card is for my mom for Mother's Day and for yesterday's Try a New Technique Challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers (No my mom doesn't read my blog, so she won't see her card). The challenge was to make a two way open card and I would definitely recommend making one, the directions on the challenge thread were easy to follow and the card was fun to make!

I used the Fabulous Flowers stamp set and did the rock and roll technique using Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose. I stamped the flower twice and cut out just the center of one, then added a rhinestone brad and popped it with pop dots. All of the flower petals, even the flowers inside the card were all out lined with my clear Spica glitter pen (love this pen, you have to get one!) it adds such a pretty shimmery glitter with out over doing it. I added the Barley Banana flower on the front using a blue rhinestone brad to help hold the front flap down (if you have Hodgepodge Hardware I would recommend using a piece from it to do this).

Sorry some of my pictures are not the greatest, personally I think its my old camera but my DH thinks its the person behind the camera, LOL!

Supplies: Fabulous Flowers, All Holidays, Full of Life (for saying inside card), Ribbon, Rhinestone brads, Two scoops Basic Grey designer paper, Spica glitter pen, Pop dots. Colors: Not Quite Navy, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Barley Banana.

Feelin Groovy!

Looking at this Billboardabella in her pink stripity (yeah not a real word) pants cracks me up! It totally takes me back to the 60's and 70's when bell bottoms first came out and wild prints were all the rage. I'll spare you the pictures of me in my youth dressed in orange and lime green flower print pants (not a pretty site).
I'm soooo in love with this line of Sultry Basic Grey designer papers, the colors and prints are so pretty, I can't get enough of them! I even bought more sheets of the pattern I used on these cards for my friends, its an addiction I tell ya!
On this Bella card I used my copic markers to color the image and then stamped an extra and cut out just the bill board shes holding and popped it up. Its hard to see in the pictures but I also added some glitter using my clear Atyou Spica pen all around the board, the flower in her hair and the heart on her shirt.


Supplies: Billboardabella, Ribbon, Baubles, Basic Grey designer paper, Copic markers, Spica pen, Pop dots. Colors: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink - SU, Lime green, Rose from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!

First Fella

This card is in honor of my DH and son Zach going turkey hunting and fishing this Friday and Saturday. My guys came home late last night with no turkey or fish and today just look tired and all pooped out. The Fishafella image is one that I stamped from my friend Bonnie a few weeks ago and is the first Fella card I've ever made.
It was a beautiful day today and most of the day Dan and I did a spring clean up in our back yard, we raked out flower beds, trimmed roses and shrubs, weeded and hosed off the porch then set up the patio set. Were going to take a corner of our back yard and try and make it into a play area for our youngest son Connor, which means that some of the shrubs and a tree need to be transplanted elsewhere. Its like starting all over again, it was only a few years ago that we got rid of the play set we had for our two older kids. I think Connor's going to keep us young or at least keep us busy!

Supplies: Fishafella - Stamping Bella, Cheesecloth BG - Stampin' Up, Basic Grey designer paper, Crystal Effects (on the fish), Copic markers, Eyelet, Linen thread, Pop dots. Colors: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Creamy Carmel, More Mustard, Whisper White.

Veggie Bella

Sad to say but this simple card took me three days to make, its been a very busy week for me and every time I when down to my Mom Cave to be creative, someone was calling me up stairs and needed me. I had plans to participate in at least two of the challenges on Splitcoast this week but no such luck. My DH and my oldest son left yesterday for turkey hunting and won't be back until tomorrow, so naturally my daughter thinks that I should have this fun filled weekend planed for us. Yesterday I picked her up from school and we went and got Slurpee's and stopped at Hallmark for the Webkin event that they were having and later we went out to dinner. My youngest Connor wasn't much in the mood for eating though, he was in the mood for screaming and throwing his food, needless to say we ate fast! Today the three of us were going to try and go to the beach so Connor could play at the tot lot, but its rainy and cool so we've been sticking around the house and I've been cleaning.

Supplies: Veggiebella, If friends were flowers - Stamping Bella, Copic markers, Ribbon, We R Memory Keepers designer paper, Pop dots. Colors: Old Olive, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White.

IC124 and SC172

Well this card was a stinker right from the start, funny thing is, is that it should have been an easy card, I had my layout and an inspiration piece so all I had to do was pick out a stamp and paper....... yeah right! Never stamp with a migraine late at night, the colors in the paper I choose were hard to match up for me and this is what I ended up with. It just makes me realize again that its the cards that I work and struggle to make that I like the least. I made this card yesterday and I tried to load it onto blogger and I kept getting error messages (probably a sign not to post it). This card is for last weeks sketch challenge and last Saturday's inspiration challenge on splitcoast, the inspiration piece was the fabric from this quilt or the quilt it self.

Supplies: Lockhart Geraniums, Warmest Regards - SU, Canvas BG, Copic markers, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Basic Grey - Blush designer paper, Making Memories lace ribbon. Colors: Cranberry Crisp, Creamy Carmel, Handsome Hunter, Ruby Red

Thanks for looking!

2 Challenges in One!

Sketch Challenges

These cards are for two different sketch challenges, the first one is for Taylor Vanbruggen's Cupcake challenge on her blog Taylored Expressions and the second one is for Beate's Weekend sketch challenge #44 on her blog Fresh and Fun. Today was a good nap day for my youngest, I think because of all the fresh air and walks I've been taking him on, that and he finally cut the four molars that I know were causing him pain. The first card up top I used the Inkadinkado cupcake stamp set that I had gotten a few weeks ago and used on this card, so like Taylor said if you have cupcake stamps why not use em'! I started out with a Green Galore card base and then a Pixie Pink panel that I stamped my saying on and then used my new Swiss Dot embossing folder that I got at Eclectic Paperie and ran it through my Cuttlebug. Then I used a piece of designer paper from the Berry Sweet K&Company paper pack that I have (love these colors - so fun), stamped the cupcake image and used my copics to color and then Atyou Spica glitter pen on the sprinkles and swirls. I added the two ribbons and flowers with a rhinestone brad, popped the main image and I was done.
On this card I used a new Lockhart stamp that I got last week that I have been dying to use, I purchased a few Lockhart stamps from Ellen Hutson's on line store and I'm happy with what I got, the images are fun to color! I stamped the colander full of cherries with Brilliance ink and heat set the image, then colored with my copic markers and matted it with bashful blue and a real red scalloped mat that I cut and embossed using my Nestabilites die. I used SU summer picnic designer paper and red striped ribbon, added three red brads and popped the main image.

Tomorrow I'll be posting a few other challenge cards that I made, so try and check back!

So Nice

I received this blog award from my friend Deborah and I feel very faltered that she gave this award to me, the feeling is mutual. When ever I visit Deb's blog Sharing My Obsession it always cheers me up, her cards and projects are so fantastic and her writing is fun to read, so thank you Deb!

I'd like to forward this award on to a few other bloggers, with no obligations to post, just to let them know they cheer me up when ever I visit their blog.

Anna ~ Sassy & Sweet
Tara ~ Stampalicious
Jan ~ Stamps, Paper, Scissors
Michelle ~ Mish Mash

Fun & Fast Flap Card and a Criss Cross Box

These were the other two projects that were done at my stamp camp the other night, the first is a flap card using the Fun & Fast Notes stamp set. If you click on the highlighted words it will take you to the tutorial on Splitcoast and give you step by step directions, but if you would like a larger sized card, I used these measurements: 4 1/4" x 11" and then after using the largest circle on the coluzzle on one end I scored (starting at the rounded end) 2" then 6 3/4". I stamped the tea cup image and used an aqua brush and the ink in the lid of my ink pads to color the image and then went back in and colored with my SU markers to add shadows and depth, then cut the image and Pixie Pink mat with the coluzzle, then used my Nestabililites die and cut out a white scalloped mat and adhered it to the flap of the card. The apricot appeal piece was wheeled using the Fast Flowers wheel and pierced around the edge using the piercing mat and template. The saying was stamped and punched out with the word window punch and the bashful blue ribbon was added.

This criss-cross box was cased from sbrothers, a member from splitcoast. When I saw this box in the gallery I thought it was so cute and very well done, so I decided to use it for camp. I added a tag with a saying using the small oval and word window punches and used cherry M&M's inside a clear cello bag. I found the directions on how to make a criss-cross box on Nichole Heady's blog Capture the Moment she has some fabulous projects on her blog, you really need to check it out if you haven't already.

Morning Soft Mother's Day

Today didn't start off all that great, this morning I ended up slamming my finger in a drawer and overflowing my laundry tub all before 7:30am. I felt like climbing back into bed. This was not the first time I've heard the sound of rushing water flowing over the laundry tub, (sad to say) this time my daughter had a shirt soaking in the tub with the plug in, I think I must have needed more coffee before I started trying to be productive this morning.
Anyhoo, this is another card that we made at stamp camp last night. I had ordered this Morning Soft stamp set because I loved the saying that went with it so much so I decided to use it for creating a Mother's Day card.
I used Always Artichoke for the card base and the mat for the Mother's Day saying and Mellow Moss with the Floral Background stamp for the 4x5 1/4" piece. I used my Stampin' Up watercolor pencils to color the morning glory's and an aqua brush and Artichoke ink pad to color the leaves. The Barley Banana piece was stamped with the Stitched background stamp and most of the pieces were sponged using either Artichoke, Lavender Lace or Barley Banana. I also used two punches, the ticket punch and the Horizontal slot punch for on the saying.
Thanks for stopping by!

Wonderful You

Yes I added a picture of myself to my blog, I actually hate having my picture taken, I'm usually the one behind the camera, but I do realize that having a face to go along with someones words does make it a bit more personal, so this is me!

This is one of the cards that were making tonight for my Stamp Camp, its a smaller group tonight, I have six ladies coming and I'm all set and ready to go. I think this Wonderful You stamp set with the matching wheel is so sharp! I was going to order it when the Spring/Summer Stampin' Up catalog first came out, but I'm glad that I waited for this months special were if you buy this stamp set, you receive the matching wheel for free.
I used the jumbo wheel on the card base and rolled just the edge of the card with chocolate chip. The center panel is river rock and I used the Canvas BG stamp with Versa Mark. Then I stamped the solid flower in Ruby Red and the outlined flower in Chocolate Chip on top, the leaves I inked up in Sahara Sand and stamped off once before stamping onto the bottom of the main image. The main image is punched using the Horizontal Slot punch and the ribbon was pulled through and tied, I also used pop dots to raise the center flower image to add dimension and used my piercing template and piercer to a line the wholes for the three brads.

I wanted to thank everyone that left a message and suggestions to my post regarding my sleeping problem, I'm going to give the lavender a try.

Pompomabella

This was a card that I made last night using Pompomabella and some old scrapbook paper that I had. I need to start using some of the scraps of designer paper that I have, before I buy any new, some I've had for years so its either use it up or toss it out and I just a soon use it. This card is pretty straight forward, I stamped the image twice and colored the pom poms, cut them out and used pop dots and adhered them to the main Bella image that I had colored with my copic markers. I added ribbon and baubles and popped the main image with more pop dots. When I create a Bella card, I usually pick out my designer paper first, then two or three complimentary colored sheets of card stock to match, that way I know what colors to use when I color my Bella.
Thanks for looking!

Bella Ball

So Pretty

RAK

A Spring Hello

The past few days have been flying by like the speed of light and I haven't been able to have much stamping time, but today I was in the mood to stamp this image from the hostess set, A Little Bit of Happiness and make it into a card. I'm not thrilled with how it came out, but I was stamping and I got to use my new SU Stitched background, which is so pretty I wish I had bought it sooner. I really need to get my stuff together and get stamping because next Wednesday is my stamp camp for the month, I know what I want the projects to be, I just need to make it all (easier said than done) I know I'll be putting projects together and going crazy cleaning my house Wednesday morning, cause that's just me.

Supplies: A Little Bit of Happiness, Stitched BG, Fundamental Phrases, Ribbon, Small button, Watercolor Wonder crayons, Aqua brush, Pop dots. Colors: Apricot Appeal, Lavender Lace, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Whisper White.
Hope your having a good week so far!

Men in Trees is on tonight, yeah!

You Make My Day Award

I've been given this You Make My Day blog award from, Monica, Danni, Kim and Dawn and I feel so loved, thank you all for thinking of me and I feel the same way about each of your blogs as well!

Here are the details:

1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.

4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) To show these rules.

Alrighty then I need to list five blogs, so many bloggers have already been chosen for this award so if I list your blog and you've already been nominated, consider your self extra loved!

Jen ~ I Heart to Stamp

Kendra ~ Paper Dreams

Anna ~ Sassy & Sweet

Cyndi ~ The Scrappy Chick

Tara ~ Stampalicious

Inkadinkado Cupcakes

As you can see (if your visiting my blog and not reading my email update) I've changed my blog header again, a girls aloud to change her mind, right! Just don't tell my husband who helped me work on the blog header you last saw, because he already thinks I'm crazy and can never make up my mind. The blog header that I had was nice, it was from Shabbyshoppe.com and was a download for $2.99 and maybe at one point I'll go back to using it, I just think it was a little too busy for me.
The card layout up top was a sketch from Michelle Wooderson's blog Mish Mash, everything Michelle creates is beautiful and I love her style, I'm always so impressed and inspired by her work!
The stamps I used for this card are from Inkadinkado and I found them at JoAnn's tonight as I was looking for some blade refills for my cutter. JoAnn's had a lot of other sets by Inkadinkado that were very tempting (this is really bad since I sell Stampin' Up stamps) but I do like to try stamps from other companies some times as well, just for the fun of it, even though I like Stampin' Up the best.

Supplies: Birthday Cupcake Inkadinkado, Doodlebug designer paper, Ribbon, SU flower punches, Buttons, Fiskar scalloped scissors, Copic markers, Nestabilities. Colors: Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink and Whisper White.

Thanks for the great sketch Michelle!

Huggybellas

These are the cards that I was working on earlier this week for a few of my friends, yes at first glance all the cards look the same, but if you look close (if you click on the picture to enlarge it) each one is colored a little different and has a different layout, but I used the same color scheme. I mailed them out the other day, so some or most of them should have been delivered already. My inspiration for these cards was the Basic Grey designer paper that I used, its called sultry/dressy and I absolutely love it, these colors are my favorite colors, the different shades of pinks, greens and chocolate browns are so pretty! I used my copic markers to color the Bella's, after stamping them in Brilliance black ink and heat setting the images, then double matted each Bella using Purely Pomegranate and Old Olive. I also used ribbon and baubles on almost every card and pop dots under the Bella images for dimension. I enjoyed making these cards for my friends to let them know how special they are to me, I hope they like them!

PS, so what do ya think of my new blog banner?

Signs of Spring

Its another beautiful day again today, hooray! Yesterday it got up to around 46 degrees and today its going to be around 53 and the sun is shinning! I'm so glad because I've really been having cabin fever lately and I've been dying to get out side. Yesterday morning Gabby and I took Connor for a nice walk around our subdivision and then in the afternoon I took him outside to blow bubbles and Connor acted as if he'd never been outside before, he loved it!
Our crocuses are starting to bloom and our daffodils have sprouted out of the ground, its so nice to see things coming back to life after such a long winter.

This is another stamped image I received of Fluffles the cat, I tried to make the flowers hes in look like pansies (the one up front has been colored and popped up with a pop dot). This card is the same size as my last Fluffles card, 4 1/4 x 4 1/4" with the images I've gotten I'm going to make an assortment of cards all the same size.

Supplies: Fluffles - Stampendous, Warmest Regards - SU (retired), Ribbon, Brads, Copic markers, Piercer w/mat, Pop dots. Colors: Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Summer Sun, Whisper White.

If you have a chance, check back later I'll be posting the cards I was working on earlier this week!

Lucky Flufflles & RAKs

Well they say that ladybugs are lucky and if that's true, than this Fluffles the cat in the stamped image above is pretty darn lucky. I received some of these adorable stamped images from one of the ladies on splitcoast stampers Wish RAK list that I belong to. Now if your like me and I'm sure some of the ladies out there in blog land, your wondering what the heck is a RAK let alone a wish RAK. When I first started blogging I felt as though I needed some sort of secret decoder ring that I didn't get in my cereal box, LOL! A RAK for those who don't know is a Random Act of Kindness, in other words its a card that you send to someone just to surprise them and to do something nice.
When I heard that SCS had a RAK group of course I wanted to join, I thought that it would be fun to send out RAKS to other women that liked stamping as I do and to have the ability to brighten someones day simply by sending them a card. Then I found out that once your approved to join the RAK group that you could also join the wish RAK group which entails sending not only cards, but stamped images and small gifts that other people are wishing to receive. Well even though its only been a few weeks, I'm enjoying the wish RAK group, I've sent out several wishes to other women and in turn I've received several wishes of my own. If your someone who enjoys sending cards and you visit splitcoast stampers, maybe you should give it a try.

Supplies: Stampendous - Fluffles the Cat (image), Polka Dot BG, Absolutely Fabulous - Stampin' Up, Nestabilities, Ribbon, Photo corner punch, Word window punch, Brad, Piercer w/mat, Copic markers, Crystal Effects (on the ladybugs to make them glossy), Pop dots. Colors: Old Olive, Real Red, Summer Sun, Basic Black, Whisper White.

A mouse click away

This was another Bella card that I made for a gal on the Yahoo Bellacholics group that I belong to.
I haven't posted in the last few days because I've been working on a batch of cards to send out and its taken longer than usual because the kids are home from school and I've been doing some reorganizing.

Supplies: Clickabella, I'm just a mouse click away - Stamping Bella, Prima flowers, Ribbon, Copic markers, Rhinestone brad, Imaginisce Got2Get Flowered designer paper, Pop dots. Colors: Old Olive, Lavender Lace, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White.


Thanks for poppin in!