PPA 124 Sketch Challenge

It's amazing that it's the holiday season and I'm finding more time to sit down and work on projects.  I enjoyed playing along with this week's sketch challenge (isn't Margaret great?  I get to meet her in January and I'm really looking forward to it).  Here's what I pulled together for the challenge.  I had to turn my card the other direction, but it still works.  I used my color coach to come up with the color combo for this card- Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait and Not Quite Navy.

Here's a quick picture of my little elf!  She's such a cutie (and so hard to get her to smile sometimes).

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

December Pals Blog Hop

Welcome to the December Pals Hop! This month, we're featuring Birthday themed cards and projects! I hope you enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with.
You've likely hopped over from Angie's blog, http://www.angiesmusings.com, (Max got sick and couldn't play so we're skipping stop #3, sorry). I'm stop number 4 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for Birthday paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

I have two cards to share with you for this birthday inspired hop (because we always need lots of birthday card options!).  The first one plays along with this week's PPA challenge "puttin' on the ritz".  If you've never played the PPA challenge you should.  It's always lots of fun.  I glitzed this card up with dazzling diamonds (Stampin' Up's take on stickles- they're great!) and some rhinestones. 

(Melon Mambo, Basic Black and Whisper White)

This card uses one of my all-time favorite stamp sets, Fifth Avenue Floral.  It was inspired by a cardigan I have hanging in my closet.  I've recently had to move my crafting space into our bedroom closet because I came to the realization that I can't share a room with Saige :).  It's kinda hard to tell from the photo, but it's Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake for the flower stamping.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is stamped in Early Espresso.

Speaking of Saige....here are some photos from Thanksgiving.  I won her adorable little onesie at our church MOMS group.  She's getting so big!  She started crawling on Saturday and now has her two bottom teeth.

Here she is with her two cousins from Boston, Alexandra and Spencer.  They came (with their parents) and spent the week with us.  We had a great time.

Ok....back to the hop...
Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Melanie, at http://www.oopsadaisy.typepad.com, stop number 5 on the December Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

PALS LINE-UP:
1. Patti MacLeith at http://www.papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com

2. Angie Blake at http://www.angiesmusings.com

3. Maxine Conrad at http://www.stamptothemax.com/- she's sick so she's not hopping today- sorry!

4. Kylie Nicolosi at http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/
5. Melanie Collins at http://www.oopsadaisy.typepad.com

6. Angela Richwine at http://stampinawaywithangela.blogspot.com

7. Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/
8. Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com/
9. Jennifer Takacs at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jenntakacs/blog

10. Linda Fisher at http://lindas-stampinloft.blogspot.com

11. Julie Trevett-Smith at http://www.thestampinaffair.com/
12. Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog
13. Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com/
14. Mary Fish at at http://www.stampinpretty.com/
15. Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com/
16. Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com/

17. Cindy Hall at http://prettyimpact.com/
18. Benjamin Turner at http://hestamps.blogspot.com

Happy Thanksgiving and a PPA Challenge (#121)

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  We had family in town all week and really enjoyed our time visiting.  One of my visitors was interested in stamping and begged me to get out some of my stuff.  I, of course, was happy to oblige and tried to only bring out a few things so I wouldn't overwhelm her.  (I know all of you stampers/scrapbookers know that this hobby is at least 50% collecting pretty things to someday use on some project).  We had a mini-challenge session.  I had her choose a stamp set, a color of card stock and I knew I wanted to use pearls to play along with this week's PPA challenge.  After I had all of the elements I thought for a bit and came up with this card...     

She chose The Sounding Joy stamp set and Concord Crush paper.  I love the rich look of the card.  It was a fun night stamping and I think she really enjoyed herself and was so proud of her cards.  Thanks for stopping by.

PPA 119- Christmas inspiration

This week is a great challenge over at the Pals Paper Arts.  It's Christmas!  I can't believe it's the middle of November all ready.  Where has the time gone?  I'm really looking forward to Saige's first Christmas (but I could use some fall weather- it was 83 degrees in Texas today!)  Here's a Christmas card idea for the challenge.

 Thanks for stopping by.  Let me know if you have any questions about supplies used.

November Pals Blog Hop

Welcome to the November Pals Hop!  This month, we're featuring Winter, Christmas, and Hanukkah inspired cards and projects!  Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with.  You've likely hopped over from Mikki Sarkisyan, I'm stop number 10 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in!  I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for Winter, Christmas, and Hanukkah paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals!  Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

 This is the new stocking sizzix die with the stocking accents sizzix die.  I plan to use this as an accent on a Christmas scrapbook page for Saige.

 This is a CASE from the Stampin' Success magazine (a perk of being a demonstrator).  They did it in Pool Party, but I didn't have any DSP in that color yet.  I switched it up with Poppy Parade.  I added a glimmer brad and a mini jingle bell to take it up a notch.

This box took about 3 minutes to create!  Retired Riding Hood Red ribbon, Tags til Christmas stamp set, the tag punch and some linen thread.

These are gift card holders made with the scallop envelope sizzix die.  I cut my paper to 5x5 and folded it in half.  Lay it on the die with the fold in the center and you'll have an envelope big enough for a gift card to fit in.  I used the Tags til Christmas set, 1 inch square punch, postage punch and some mini jingle bells.  They add just the right amount of bling to a project.

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Mary Fish, stop number 11 on the November Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!  I hope you enjoyed the projects.  Now is a great time to join my Stampin' Up team.  Join by 11/11/11 and get a free Big Shot!  Ask me how.

1. Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com/

2. Julie Trevett-Smith at http://www.thestampinaffair.com/

3. Maxine Conrad at http://www.stamptothemax.com/

4. Jessica Ying at http://www.yoyostamping.com/

5. Mike Funke at http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style/

6. Jennifer Takacs at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jenntakacs/blog

7. Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog

8. Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com/

9. Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

10. Kylie Nicolosi at http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/

11. Mary Fish at http://www.stampinpretty.com/

12. Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com/

13. Ann Schach at http://www.stampinchic.com/

14. Linda Fisher at http://lindas-stampinloft.blogspot.com/

15. Sandie Conner at http://www.prettyprovisions.com/

16. Cindy Hall at http://prettyimpact.com/

17. Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com/

18. Angie Blake at http://www.angiesmusings.com/

19. Kris Kilcoyne at http://kweenbee.typepad.com/

20. Camila McManus at http://www.obxscrapbook.wordpress.com/

21. Leah O'Brien at http://www.leahsstampincorner.com

Here are some recent photos of my little pumpkin!

Here's Saige with Matt on his birthday last week.  See a resemblance? I can't believe that she's 7 months old today!

Pals Blog Hop

Welcome to the October Pals Hop! This month, we're featuring Thank You cards and Thanksgiving inspired projects! Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with.
You've likely hopped over from Cindy Hall at http://www.prettyimpact.com/, I'm stop number 4 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for Thanks and Thanksgiving paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

This card uses the Gently Falling an Days of Gratitude sets.  It also uses the yummy Spice Cake DSP!  I am in LOVE with this paper.  The color combos are just beautiful.

Here are a few fall votive holders decorated to go with my table scape. I finally found a use for those giant buttons in the current mini catalog!  I also used up some of the Spice Cake Fabric.  I love how they all coordinate. 

This votive holder was painted with Cajun Craze Modge Podge.  It's another way to use your re-inkers.  You add a few drops to a little bit of modge podge and stir it up really well.  It works better with darker colors (i.e. yellow probably won't turn out so well).  Just keep adding drops of color until it's what you want.  I used a foam brush to apply it and I only did one coat.  If you have any questions feel free to leave me a comment and I'll respond.   

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com/, stop number 5 on the October Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

Line-Up:

If you prefer to show the actual links, here is the post line-up:
1. Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog

2. Sandie Conner at http://www.prettyprovisions.com/

3. Cindy Hall at http://www.prettyimpact.com/

4. Kylie Nicolosi at http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/

5. Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com/

6. Leah O'Brien at http://www.leahsstampincorner.com/

7. Jason Casper at http://www.stampindad.com/

8. Barbara Chatzkel at http://www.takeoutpaperarts.com/

9. Mike Funke at http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style/

10. Mary Fish at http://www.stampinpretty.com/

11. Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com/

12. Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com/

13. Jennifer Takacs at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/jenntakacs/blog

14. Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

15. Patti MacLeith at http://papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com/

16. Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com/

17. Camila McManus at http://www.obxscrapbook.wordpress.com/

And, here are a few photos of what I'm thankful for this year!  Saige turned 6 months this past weekend.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone by.  I'm also thankful that she's sleeping pretty good so I'm getting more sleep :)

 I hope she'll be daddy's photo assistant one day!

 Cutest Pumpkin in the patch

 LOVE!  This was taken on her 6 month birthday.

I just love the look on her face in this photo.  I had to get a picture of us in the same shirt.  Her's is a hand-me-down and mine was given to me back in 2007 for a work thing.  How funny that we had the same one.

Fall and Halloween Pals Blog Hop

Welcome to the September Pals Hop! This month, we're featuring Fall and Halloween inspired projects! Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with.  You've likely hopped over from Barbara Chatzkel's blog, http://takeoutpaperarts.com, I'm stop number 14 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for Fall and Halloween paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

 

Here are a few Halloween projects I've managed to put together.

This one is a CASE of Shellie.  My demonstrator friend, Kathy, saw it and brought me the pieces to put it together.  It uses the pennant die and the cone die.  I added the sparkles with the new Dazzling Details from the Holiday mini.  I love the dazzling details product!

Here are the new cellophane treat bags from the Holiday mini.  They are so easy to put together and look so cute with the Batty For You stamp set as the topper.  Just think about how cute it would be to have a vase or a treat basket full of these for your trick-or-treaters (side note, I'm so excited to put Saige in a costume for her first Halloween.  I promise to post pictures later)

Here's another option for your Halloween treats.  This uses the treat box die.  The orange one is the regular size and the green one is an example of how you can fold your paper to extend the die and fit a regular sized candy bar inside of it.  Aren't they cute?!  (another thanks to Kathy for helping me with these as well).

 

I hope you've enjoyed my Halloween projects today.  Please hop along for more inspiring ideas from Cindy Hall at http://www.prettyimpact.com, stop number 15 on the September Pals Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

 

1. Jeanne Norris at http://www.mycreativeimpressions.com

2. Patti MacLeith at http://papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com

3. Melanie Collins at http://oopsadaisy.typepad.com

4. Ann Schach at http://www.stampinchic.com

5. Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com

6. Leah O'Brien at http://www.leahobrien.com

7. Mary Fish at http://www.stampinpretty.com

8. Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com

9. Linda Fisher at http://lindas-stampinloft.blogspot.com

10. Mike Funke at http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style

11. Nancy Gleason at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mystampinspace/blog

12. Joan Norris at http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/clearlycreative/blog

13. Barbara Chatzkel at http://takeoutpaperarts.com

14. Kylie Nicolosi at http://kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com

15. Cindy Hall at http://www.prettyimpact.com

16. Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com

17. Sandie Conner at http://www.prettyprovisions.com

18. Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com

19. Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com

20. Debbie Pierce at http://www.stampinsunshine.com

21. Camila McManus at http://www.obxscrapbook.wordpress.com

22. Jason Casper at http://www.stampindad.com

PPA110- A spooky CASE

I've managed to work ahead and get a few things together for my next Card Club (starting 9/18 if you're interested, there are 3 more spots open!).  It's nice to have stuff done and not to have to worry with it at the last minute.  It also lets me play along with challenges like this weeks' PPA Halloween challenge.  Here is a card that we're going to make at the next Card Club (Sunday 9/18 and Tuesday 9/20).  It's a direct CASE from the Idea Book and Catalog (proof that it really is an idea book and shouldn't be recycled just when the catalog year is over, he he.)  If you're looking for a hobby now is the time to try out card making.  We have a few more spots open in our card club and would love to have you join us!

PPA 107...late, but worth the wait

so.... I tried to get my PPA card done in time, but I just kept waiting for some of my Holiday mini catalog products to arrive and ended up missing the deadline.  (If I could just get the UPS man to deliver my packages earlier in the day!)  We'll be making this card at my card club this Saturday.  I'm really happy with the way that it turned out and I think it was worth waiting on the UPS man.  I used the Pretty Postage stamp set and coordinating punch from the summer mini and the new 1" square punch from the upcoming holiday mini.  I also used the new houndstooth embossing folder and I brayered it with perfect plum for more contrast.  I just bought a brayer for that one purpose and I love the effect.  Without further ado...

(special thanks to Ann Schach of The Stampin' Schach for the video tutorial on the bow)

Pals Blog Hop- 3-D items

Welcome to the August Pals Hop! This month, we're featuring fun and creative 3-dimensional projects! Enjoy the hop and the amazing creations that the Pals have come up with. 

You've likely hopped over from Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com/, I'm stop number 13 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for 3-D paper projects from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

1. Stephanie Uzee at http://www.stampinwithsuzee.blogspot.com/

2. Nicole Watt at http://www.impressionsbynicole.com/
3. Barbara Chatzkel at http://www.takeoutpaperarts.com/
4. Jason Casper at http://www.stampindad.com/
5. Melanie Collins at http://www.oopsadaisy.typepad.com/

6. Carmen Sublasky at http://creativestamptuary.typepad.com/the-creative-stamptuary/

7. Patti MacLeith at http://papercraftsbypatti.blogspot.com/

8. Sandie Conner at http://www.prettyprovisions.com/

9. Nina Dee at http://www.deesignsbyninadee.blogspot.com/

10. Leah O'Brien at http://www.leahobrien.com/

11. Mary Fish at http://www.stampinpretty.com/

12. Rae Harper at http://wildwestpaperarts.com/

13. Kylie Nicolsi at http://www.kyliescraftycorner.blogspot.com/

14. Pam Giudici at http://www.pamshobby.blogspot.com/

15. Linda Fisher at http://lindas-stampinloft.blogspot.com/
16. Mikki Sarkisyan at http://www.mikkiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

17. Martha Stewart at http://www.seasonsofstamping.com/

18. Mike Fuke at http://stampin-style.typepad.com/stampin-style/
19. Barb Furlong at http://www.theloveofstamping.com/

I love to make 3-D projects.  There's just something that makes me warm and fuzzy inside when I look at something I made.  Here are a few of my recent projects.  We made this at a recent workshop.  It's the onboard journal from the new catalog.  It features a lot of new products- the pennant parade stamp set, pennant builder punch, chocolate chip polka dot ribbon and the just add cake designer series paper.

This is a mobile that I made for Saige's room (it's a Pottery Barn knock off- I just couldn't stomach paying the amount they were asking when I knew I could just make it myself).  I used the butterfly sizzix regular die and the colors blushing bride, sahara sand and whisper white.  I'm still trying to share my stampin' space with Saige.  The room was already gray and pink so it worked out perfectly that we had a little girl.  I lucked out and found the rings as a mobile in the clearance section at hobby lobby.  I cut off the existing mobile pieces and tied up my own.

And, I figured most of you would want to see some more of her bedroom.  Here's her bed.  My mom made the bedding and she did such an amazing job.  I wasn't finding the black and white bedding that I wanted so I asked my mom and she came through with flying colors!  If you're looking for custom bedding send me a message and maybe my mom can create something for you too.  Thanks mom!

Hop along for more inspiring ideas from Pam Giudici at http://www.pamshobby.blogspot.com/, stop number 14 on the July PALS HOP! Thanks for "hopping" by!

PPA 105- Color challenge

My hubby and I love to watch HGTV's design star.  Sometimes I feel like PPA is my "design star".  Saige took an extra long nap yesterday (and by extra long I mean 2 1/2 hours- her normal is only 40 minutes!) so I was able to sit down and pull together a quick card.  The colors are all pretty and bright on their own so I knew I needed to add in a good neutral.  I wanted to play around with my new embossing folder from the summer mini.  I embossed it with the folder and then swiped versamark over the raised part and sprinkled with white embossing powder.  I had to use a small paint brush to get lots of excess powder off so I don't think we'll be making this at an upcoming card club :).  I kept the card really simple so it would highlight the embossed part.  I couldn't decide on a sentiment so I left it blank.  I think the new Occasions Alphabet will fit perfectly in the space on the bottom left and I'll just stamp it with whatever sentiment I need at the time.  Super easy!

That daffodil delight is quite bright.  Here's my little summer sunshine...

PPA 103- sketch challenge

I managed to eek out a little time this week to play along with the Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge.  I'm blessed to be a part of the talented group that calls themselves the Stampin' Pretty Pals.  I have a workshop this coming Saturday and I know a couple of the ladies are big fans of the new houndstooth embossing folder so I was determined to incorporate it into my card.  I also know that they liked the retired color Cameo Coral so I thought I'd try to use the new Calypso Coral in color.  I must say that coral is not a color that I gravitate towards so it took me a while to come up with something I was happy with.  I had to go to my color coach a couple of times to get my mo-jo going.  More than likely I'll still be using the same pack of Calypso Coral a year from now, but I'm really happy with how the card turned out.  I hope they like it too!

I used Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, a little Riding Hood Red and a bit of Just Add Cake DSP.  I love the new In Color ribbon.  Isn't it just darling?  What do you think of my card this week?

PPA 102 and the livin's easy...

This week's theme at the Pals Paper Arts blog is "summertime and the livin's easy".  I can't say that the livin' is easier this summer (due to our new addition) but it's definitely better.  Living in TX is super hot so we're spending most of our days indoors.  My card below uses the new Pool Party in color, the Pennant Parade stamp set and the Bring on the Cake stamp set.  We made this card at my 1st Annual New Catalog Open House last weekend.

I also made these cute little cupcake picks with the Cupcake Builder punch.  They were super easy.  It's somewhat hard to see the colors in the photo below.  The bottom is crumb cake and the top is Pretty in Pink patterns paper.

  
A pool is about the only thing we do outside and Saige absolutely loves being in the water.   We've been taking her to a "bathtime babies" class where they get her used to the water and she's done great with it.  They play games and teach us how to help her get used to the water in her face and floating.  (She's only 3 months old, but we thought we'd start her early and I'm going to try to do a waterbabies class with her once she's 6 months old.)

Life Happens

Wow- I'm really not much of a blogger!  Our little addition made her way into this world on April 8th and we couldn't be more smitten.  The past 3 months has flown by filled with lots of photo shoots (my husband is a photographer), feedings, dirty diapers and not a lot of sleep.  We're settling into a routine now and I'm blessed to be able to quit my job to stay home with her full time.  This means I'm going to try to step up my Stampin' Up and I'll have to do a better job at blogging.  Last Saturday I hosted my first Stampin' Up event since her birth and I can't tell you how great it was to get together with the ladies.  I've really missed it.  Here are the cards (I cas'ed 2 of them so that helped with the creative side of things) that we made and a couple of photos of Saige.  Thanks for stopping by!

 thanks to http://www.stamppaperscissor.blogspot.com/

 my creation

 thanks to http://ilinacrouse.blogspot.com/2011/03/eastern-blooms.html

 Saige at 3 days old

Matt and Saige on Father's Day.  I love them both so much!

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you are all having a great day.  This year I embarked on the "14 Days of Valentine's" again for Matt.  I think he enjoyed it again this year and I hope I'm still "together" enough to pull it off once we have an almost 1 year old next year.  I can't believe how fast the time is going.  She should be here in about 2 months!  Here is a card that we did in my January card club that was part of Matt's special valentine treat.  I enjoy making 3x3 cards because they are so easy!